Nor had Napoleon ordered the move.

Indeed everyone in London and Paris was much astonished, and many were the speculations as to the meaning of Mercier's unusual procedure.

Russell was puzzled, writing "Que diable allait il faire dans cette galere[604] ?" and Cowley, at Paris, could give no light, being assured by Thouvenel on first rumours of Mercier's trip to Richmond that "he had not a notion that this could be true[605]." May 1, Cowley wrote, "The whole thing is inexplicable unless the Emperor is at the bottom of it, which Thouvenel thinks is not the case[606]." The next day Thouvenel, having consulted Napoleon, was assured by the latter that "he could not account for Monsieur Mercier's conduct, and that he greatly regretted it," being especially disturbed by a seeming break in the previous "complete harmony with the British Representative" at Washington[607].

This was reassuring to Russell, yet there is no question that Mercier's conduct long left a certain suspicion in British official circles.

On May 2, also, Thouvenel wrote to Flahault in London of the Emperor's displeasure, evidently with the intention that this should be conveyed to Russell[608].
Naturally the persons most excited were the two Confederate agents in Europe.