ter.
A passionate love for one of his uncle's daughters kept him there. This
love, shared by his cousin, and favoured by his aunt, was opposed by his
father. The young girl, in despair, took refuge in a convent. Dumouriez
swore to take her thence, and went away. On his road, overcome by his
grief, he bought some opium at Dieppe, shut himself up in his apartment,
wrote his adieus to his beloved, a letter of reproaches to his father,
and took the poison. Nature saved him, and repentance ensued--he went,
and, throwing himself at his father's feet, they were reconciled.

At four and twenty years of age, after seven campaigns, he brought from
the wars only twenty-two wounds, a decoration, the rank of captain, a
pension of 600 livres, debts contracted in the service, and a hopeless
love, which preyed upon his mind. His ambition, spurred by his love,
made him seek in politics that success which war had hitherto refused
him.

There was then in Paris one of those enigmatic men who are at the same
time intriguers and statesmen. Unknown and unconsidered, they play under
some name parts hidden, but important in affairs. Men of police, as well
as of politics, the governments that employ and despise them pay their
services, not in appointments, but in subsidies. Manoeuvrers in
politics, they are paid from day to day--they are urged onwards,
compromised, and then disavowed, and sometimes even imprisoned. They
suffer all, even captivity and dishonour, for money. Such men are things
to buy and sell, and their talent and utility stamp their price. Of this
class were Linguet, Brissot, even Mirabeau in his youth. Such at this
period was one Favier.

This man, employed in turns by the duc de Choiseul and M. d'Argenson, to
draw up diplomatic memoranda, had an infinite knowledge of Europe; he
was the vigilant spy of every cabinet, knew their back-games, guessed
their intrigues, and kept them in play by counter-mines, of which the
minister for foreign affairs did not always know the secret. Louis XV.,
a king of small ideas and petty resources, was not ashamed to take into
his confidence Favier, as an instrument in the schemes he contemplated
against his own ministers. Favier was the go-between in the political
correspondence which this monarch kept up with the count de Broglie,
unknown to, and against the policy of, his own ministers. This
confidence, suspected by, rather than known to, his ministers, talent as
a very able writer, deep know