ABSTRACT
‘We had not been long in our place of concealment, before we were surprised by a visit from Le Noir. On my expressing my wonder at seeing him, and especially at his appearance of being invested with / authority, he told me he had returned from America on the commencement of the revolution, that he was in the confidence of the prevailing party, and that he had spared no pains to find me out, with an intent to render me every service in his power, and conduct me and my family to a place of safety. He said all this with such an air of openness and regard, that I did not doubt his sincerity, and I had a real pleasure in the imagination, that time and experience had cured him of those errors which I now rather imputed to the giddiness of youth, than any radical fault in his natural disposition. I communicated to him therefore / without reserve, my intention, if possible, to reach Toulon, which I was informed had just opened its port to the English and Spanish fleets, and had declared for the king. 43
