D’Eon simulated his gratitude to Beaumarchais by prolonging a
mystification which must have vastly amused him, and which the author
of the wittiest comedies of his day countenanced with astounding
ingenuousness. Beaumarchais became the object of the most feminine
flattery on the part of d’Eon, who styled himself “his little
_dragonne_,” and, expressing himself in the same terms as Rosina in the
_Barber of Seville_, wrote to him: “You are made to be loved, and I feel
that my greatest anguish would be having to hate you.” And on another
occasion: “Till now, I only thought of doing justice to your merits,
admiring your talents and your generosity; I no doubt already loved you!
But the feeling was so novel to me, that I was far from believing that
love could be begotten in the midst of distress and pain.”
The manœuvre was entirely successful, and Beaumarchais allowed himself
to be completely deceived by such declarations, and even appeared to be
considerably flattered, although he made a show of taking them as a jest.
Everybody tells me (he wrote to Vergennes) that this crazy
woman is in love with me; but who the devil would ever have
supposed that in order to serve the King zealously I should
have to become the gallant knight of a captain of dragoons? The
adventure is so ridiculous that I find it very difficult to
write about it seriously.
Although Beaumarchais professed himself weary of such sentimentalism, it
was not he, but d’Eon, who put an end to it. The flirtation of the new
Chevalière did not go so far as to make her despise money matters, and
when the question arose of settling the items of the sums appropriated
to the payment of debts there was a struggle between d’Eon’s avidity
and Beaumarchais’ parsimony. The correspondence of the two lovers soon
assumed a bitter tone, and d’Eon was thoroughly incensed by a notice
which appeared at this time in _The Morning Post_ to the effect that the
insurance policies on his sex had been revived, the bets running seven to
four that the Chevalier was a woman, and that a nobleman who had taken
part in such transactions had undertaken to elucidate the question within
a fortnight. D’Eon did not fail to attribute the notice to Beaumarchais,
whom he accused of being associated with Morande in scandalous and
indecent speculations on his sex. At the same time he challenged Morande
to a duel; but the latter, being well acquainted with d’Eon’s renown as
a fencer, was only too glad of the excuse that his honour prevented him
from fighting a woman. He did not think it unfair, however, to publish a
scurrilous libel against the new Chevalière, which caused some sensation.
Annoyed by importunate Englishmen, who had been stimulated by such
incidents to revive their bets, d’Eon resolved to write to the Comte de
Vergennes to inform him of his approaching arrival in France. The reply
which he received was most encouraging:
I have received, Mademoiselle, the letter you did me the
honour to write on the 1st of this month. Had you not given
way to feelings of mistrust, which, I am persuaded, were
not expressive of your real sentiments, you might have been
enjoying, for some time past, in your native land, that
tranquillity which should now, more than ever, be the object
of your desires. If you are thinking seriously of returning,
the way is still open to you. You know the conditions imposed:
the most absolute reserve regarding the past; every precaution
to be taken to avoid meeting those persons whom you regard
as being the cause of your misfortunes; and, finally, the
resumption of the garments of your sex. You can no longer
hesitate, seeing the publicity given to this in England.
You are, no doubt, aware that our laws do not tolerate such
disguises. I have only to add that if, after a trial, you
should not feel at home in France, you will be free to proceed
elsewhere to suit your own pleasure.
I have written the above in compliance with the King’s orders.
Let me add that the safe conduct with which you have been
supplied suffices, so that you may now do as you please. If you
decide upon pursuing a wise course, I will congratulate you;
otherwise I shall only be able to pity you for not responding
to the kind master who offers you a helping hand. Set your mind
at rest, because when in France you will be able to communicate
with me directly, without the aid of any intermediary.
D’Eon, however, did not wish to leave England without endeavouring to put
an end to the wagers which were being transacted on his sex. He brought
an action before Lord Mansfield for the annulment of those disgraceful
contracts; but being non-suited by a judgment which considered him to
be a woman, since the King of France treated him as such, he contented
himself with lodging an appeal, and hastened to return to his native
land.