On October 23 the Chevalier dined with de Guerchy, and in the course of the evening M. de Vergy was announced. The Countess de Guerchy asked D’Eon, aside, if he knew him. ‘No, Madame, but I have my suspicions about him.’ ‘Hush! M. D’Eon; pray do not speak so loud.’ De Guerchy then inquired of D’Eon if he was acquainted with de Vergy. ‘No, Monsieur le Comte, and I have already informed him that he must bring letters of recommendation.’ Then, turning to de Vergy, he said: ‘Here is the Count de Guerchy who you know so well, and with whom you have supped at the Marquise de Villeroy’s. I do not see that he flies to embrace you.’ An awkward silence of some moments was broken by de Guerchy: ‘Monsieur de Vergy, I do not know you at all, nor have I met you at supper at the Marquise de Villeroy’s, although I have the honour of knowing that lady, and have frequently supped at her house.’ Foolish de Guerchy! How dearly this utterance cost him, so untrue was it. De Vergy fixed his eyes steadily on the ambassador, made a profound obeisance, and said: ‘I beg your Excellency’s pardon, I thought I had the honour of being acquainted with you.’ Then, turning to D’Eon: ‘I have heard it said that you were a polite man; there never was a greater mistake. _You do not know, M. D’Eon, the fate that awaits you in France._’ These last words he repeated a second time. The Chevalier, who was a perfect stranger to de Vergy’s business in England, took the latter by the arm. ‘My politeness does not extend to lying in behalf of others. I do not give you the lie, because you do not know what it is to tell the truth.... I have nothing with which to reproach myself, and am by no means anxious as regards my fate, in France or elsewhere.... Were we not in the presence of the ambassador and of his lady, I should very soon prove to you that I am not afraid of your threats.’ Other visitors being announced, the ambassador authoritatively put an end to the altercation, and to D’Eon’s great surprise, de Vergy was permitted to spend the evening in the general company. On the morning of the 26th, whilst the Chevalier was absent from home attending the King’s levée, de Vergy called at his residence in Dover Street, and being informed, in answer to his inquiries, that D’Eon was always at home at nine o’clock, left word that he should call at that hour the following day, fully expecting to find him in. D’Eon took in the significance of this message, and in the evening, after dinner at Lord Halifax’s, he privately related to his lordship the whole of the de Vergy incidents, and the challenge openly left at his house that morning. For once, the Chevalier neglected his measures of prudence. Lord Halifax had scarcely time to forget the mild reproof D’Eon found the courage to administer to him that evening, before being unconcernedly told of an intended breach of the peace by one in whose own country duelling was forbidden under pain of death.[134] [Sidenote: THE GUARDS TURNED OUT.]