immaterial to us," wrote Vergennes to Guines, ambassador at London, "whether the demoiselle Plunket makes a good marriage or a bad one, or even whether she allows herself indulgences without contracting marriage at all. We do not claim to be the guardians of English virginities."
To cut a long story short, Rose proved faithless, and to prevent Macdonagh's opposition to a second and more brilliant marriage, she got him arrested in 1777 under a lettre de cachet. On the way to prison he jumped out of the carriage by night, and villagers knocked off his fetters; but others betrayed him, and he was recaptured. He was deprived of all communication with the outer world, a turnkey who forwarded a letter for him being dismissed. Rose meanwhile married a Belgian marquis named Carondelet. Macdonagh was probably released under the decree of March 1790, cancelling all lettres de cachet. In the following July he met Rutledge in the Tuileries gardens, and the latter published his story to the above effect, first in Camille Desmoulins' newspaper, and afterwards in more detail as a pamphlet.[1] Carondelet replied to the newspaper letters by protesting that his wife had never had any acquaintance with Macdonagh beyond speaking to him once through the grating of Port Royal. According to Carondelet, her uncle, General Hussy, took her in 1771,
- ↑ "Amusements du Despotisme." Paris: 1791.
