Lord Halifax thanked the plenipotentiary for the information he had communicated, and shortly invited the French ambassador into another room, where they remained closeted for some minutes, and on coming out again the two joined Mr. Grenville and Lord Sandwich in close conversation. Lord Halifax then asked the Chevalier to abandon his intention of meeting de Vergy. ‘I have no intention of going in search of de Vergy, but since he has appointed an hour to see me, I shall certainly await him.’ ‘Well, then,’ said Lord Halifax, ‘were you even the Duke of Bedford, I should have to give you in charge of the Guards.’ ‘I have not the honour of being the Duke of Bedford; I am M. D’Eon, and can take perfectly good care of myself;’ adding, wishing to escape all further interference: ‘I have an engagement at the play-house this evening, and beg to take leave of your Excellency.’ On turning to leave the room he was surprised to find the door locked, and said somewhat testily to the ministers, that he never could have believed it possible for a minister plenipotentiary from France to find himself a prisoner in England, in the house of a Secretary of State; whereupon Lord Halifax handed him a slip of paper, with the request that he would attach his signature to what was written on it. D’Eon read the note, and as he persisted in refusing to sign it, although repeatedly pressed to do so by the ministers, the door was thrown open, and a detachment of the Guards, with bayonets fixed, occupied the room in which the company was assembled, and the adjoining chambers as well. There were no means of retreat. On seeing the officer, D’Eon said: ‘Do your duty and I will do mine. If it is to see me home that you have come I need no soldiers, for I can go perfectly well alone and on foot.’ Then, addressing the ministers, he intimated that when his regiment again looked upon the uniform he was wearing, it should either be unsullied or drenched in blood! A compromise was effected, the soldiers were withdrawn, and the Chevalier signed the following declaration ‘in obedience to orders.’ ‘The Chevalier D’Eon gives his word of honour to the Earls of Sandwich and Halifax that he will not fight M. de Vergy or insult him in any way, without previously communicating his intention to the said earls, in order that they may be able to prevent any evil consequences resulting from the Chevalier D’Eon’s intentions and conduct. ‘(Signed) ‘The Chevalier D’EON DE BEAUMONT, ‘By order and through the respect I owe to the ambassador of the King my master.’ ‘(Signed) ‘DUNK HALIFAX. ‘SANDWICH. ‘GUERCHY.’ ‘Great George Street, October 26, 1763.’