Portrait of Catherine II.—Her opinion of D’Eon and its fidelity—Portrait of Lord Sandwich—Of the Duke de Nivernois—D’Eon Secretary of Embassy in London—Two ‘smart pieces of work’—Kindness to French prisoners—Treaty of Peace with England—D’Eon takes the ratifications to Versailles—Delight of King and Ministers—The Marquise de Pompadour—The Count de Guerchy nominated Ambassador at St. James’—The Duke de Praslin’s estimate of his qualities—The Duke tests D’Eon’s loyalty towards himself—The Prince de Soubise at Villinghausen—D’Eon’s respect for the de Broglios—Is invested with the Cross of Saint Louis 56 CHAPTER V. D’Eon becomes Resident and Chargé d’Affaires at the British Court—Also the King’s special secret agent—Plans for the invasion of England—Nicknames to secret correspondents—Louis XV.’s letter to D’Eon on the survey of England—De Pompadour discovers the secret correspondence—The King’s vexation—D’Eon advanced to be Minister Plenipotentiary—How he received his new honours—De Broglio’s anxiety for the safety of the King’s papers—De Pompadour’s conspiracy to ruin D’Eon—Claims against the Crown—Letter of State in favour of D’Eon 73 CHAPTER VI. D’Eon charged with extravagance at the Embassy—Irritating correspondence—Influx of French visitors—Odious proposal to D’Eon—Is to return to subordinate duties on being superseded—His remonstrances—The Earl of Hertford—The Count de Guerchy’s arrival in England, and D’Eon’s letters of recall—Secret despatch from Louis XV.—Official recall on the plea of mental alienation—Disregard of the Ministerial orders 90 CHAPTER VII. D’Eon’s interview with the Earl of Halifax—Refuses to surrender the King’s papers to de Guerchy—Declines to take leave of the King of England—A scene at the French Embassy—Another at Lord Halifax’s residence—A third at D’Eon’s—Summoned by a magistrate—De Guerchy’s hostile measures—D’Eon is dangerously drugged at the table of the French Ambassador—Designs against his liberty—Removes to Brewer Street, Golden Square—Childishly annoyed—His extradition demanded—Warned to that effect by Louis XV 109 CHAPTER VIII.