Messieurs de Maurepas and de Vergennes wished to get them out of his hands, as they were afraid he would print them.

This eccentric being had long solicited permission to return to France; but it was necessary to find a way of sparing the family he had offended the insult they would see in his return; he was therefore made to resume the costume of that sex to which in France everything is pardoned.

The desire to see his native land once more determined him to submit to the condition, but he revenged himself by combining the long train of his gown and the three deep ruffles on his sleeves with the attitude and conversation of a grenadier, which made him very disagreeable company.
[The account given by Madame Campan of the Chevalier d'Eon is now known to be incorrect in many particulars.

Enough details for most readers will be found in the Duc de Broglie's "Secret of the King," vol.ii., chaps.

vi.
and g., and at p.