’"Mon ami, ce n’est pas la peine!” cried they both at once, their faces rayonnant de joie.  “You need not give yourself so much trouble; you will not stay here long.  We have seen the Grand Juge, and your detention arises from a mistake.  It was supposed that you are brother to the Abbe Edgeworth—­we are to deliver a petition from you, stating what your relationship to the Abbe really is.  This shall be backed by an address signed by all your friends at Paris, and you will be then at liberty to return.”

’I objected to writing any petition, and at all events I determined to consult my Ambassador, who had conducted himself well towards me.  I wrote to Lord Whitworth, stating the facts, and declaring that nothing could ever make me deny the honour of being related to the Abbe Edgeworth.  Lord Whitworfh advised me, however, to state the fact that I was not the Abbe’s brother. . . .

’No direct answer was received from the First Consul; but perhaps the revocation of the order of the Grand Juge came from him.  We were assured that my father’s letter had been read by him, and that he declared he knew nothing of the affair; and so far from objecting to any man for being related to the Abbe Edgeworth, he declared that he considered him as a most respectable, faithful subject, and that he wished that he had many such.’

Before this unpleasant occurrence Edgeworth had thought of taking a house in Paris for two years and sending for his other children; but he now, in spite of the entreaties of his French friends, altered his plans and resolved to return home.  Maria writes:—­’He was prudent and decided—­had he been otherwise, we might all have been among the number of our countrymen who were, contrary to the law of nations, and to justice and reason, made prisoners in France at the breaking out of the war.  We were fortunate in getting safe to free and happy England a short time before war was declared, and before the detention of the English took place.

’My eldest brother had the misfortune to be among those who were detained.  His exile was rendered as tolerable as circumstances would permit by the indefatigable kindness of our friends the D’ s.  But it was an exile of eleven years—­from 1803 to 1814—­six years of that time spent at Verdun!’

CHAPTER 11

Instead of returning at once to Ireland, the Edgeworths went to Edinburgh to visit Henry Edgeworth, whose declining health caused his father much anxiety.  Maria writes:—­’He mended rapidly while we were at Edinburgh; and this improvement in his health added to the pleasure his father felt in seeing the interest his son had excited among the friends he had made for himself in Edinburgh—­men of the first abilities and highest characters, both in literature and science—­whom we knew by their works, as did all the world; with some of whom my father had had the honour of corresponding, but to whom he was personally unknown.  Imagine the pleasure he felt at being introduced to them by his son, and in hearing Gregory, Alison, Playfair, Dugald Stewart, speak of Henry as if he actually belonged to themselves, and with the most affectionate regard. . . .