The Admiral still had zealous partisans; but the fame of his exploits had lost their gloss; people in general were quick to discern his faults; and his faults were but too discernible.

That he had carried on a traitorous correspondence with Saint Germains had not been proved, and had been pronounced by the representatives of the people to be a foul calumny.

Yet the imputation had left a stain on his name.

His arrogant, insolent and quarrelsome temper made him an object of hatred.
His vast and growing wealth made him an object of envy.

What his official merits and demerits really were it is not easy to discover through the mist made up of factious abuse and factious panegyric.