If we look at the order of Louis XVI., dated August 25, 1775, instructing Beaumarchais to recover the papers out of D’Eon’s hands, we find the latter named in the masculine gender; and although Beaumarchais distinctly individualises D’Eon as being a woman, in none of de Vergennes’ despatches is he spoken of otherwise than as if he were a man, and that minister goes so far as to say that if the Chevalier would disguise himself—‘si M. D’Eon voulait se travestir’—all should be well. (See p. 239.) The author of the attractive and somewhat laborious work, ‘Beaumarchais et son Temps,’ calls attention to the piquancy in D’Eon’s letters to Beaumarchais, acting admirably, as he does, the part of a woman concealed under the guise of a man; at the same time adopting an ambiguous style, as if with the view of making it clear at any such time eventually as his fraud would be discovered, that he had been duping so astute a man as the author of ‘Le Barbier de Seville,’ and that whilst duping him, to his face, he was also making fun of him, without his being sensible of it. On the other hand, Beaumarchais amused himself at the expense of the love-sick _vieille dragonne_, becoming the more confirmed in his error, as D’Eon continued to counterfeit the wrath of an offended old maid. The Chevalier’s letters to Louis XVI. (Ch. MSS.) make it sufficiently clear that the King could not have been positively assured on his sex. In one letter D’Eon informs his Majesty that he continued to maintain silence in respect to his position, which was so singular and extraordinary, as to be without parallel in ancient or modern history. He had kept his secret profoundly, because it was the secret of secrets of the late King, and he entreated his Majesty either to allow two Councillors of State, in whom he had implicit confidence, to write down his depositions and the proofs to them, before he returned to France, or permit him to publish his defence. In another letter, the King is told that the question of sex will soon be decided, after the Court will have restored the honour and money due to him. ‘I can then think of settling down, and in marrying, make known to which sex I belong.’ In a third letter, the Chevalier points out that negotiations for his return to France were conducted from 1770 to 1775, and that his letter to the Count de Broglio of January 1775, was sent under flying seal to the Count de Vergennes, to enable that minister to become well acquainted with the validity of some of his arguments, and communicate them for his Majesty’s consideration.