What became of Douglas at that time was never known, except that he was recognised in various places, running, inquiring, crying out with despair that he had escaped, without mentioning any name.  Apparently news came to him, or he sought it, being tired of receiving none.  The report of what had occurred in such a little place as Nonancourt would easily have reached him, close as he was to it; and perhaps it made him set out anew to try and catch his prey.

But he journeyed in vain.  King James had remained hidden at Nonancourt, where, charmed with the attentions of his generous post-mistress, who had saved him from his assassins, he admitted to her who he was, and gave her a letter for the Queen, his mother.  He remained there three days, to allow the hubbub to pass, and rob those who sought him of all hope; then, disguised as an Abbe, he jumped into a post-chaise that Madame L’Hospital had borrowed in the neighbourhood—­to confound all identity—­and continued his journey, during which he was always pursued, but happily was never recognised, and embarked in Brittany for Scotland.

Douglas, tired of useless searches, returned to Paris, where Stair kicked up a fine dust about the Nonancourt adventure.  This he denominated nothing less than an infraction of the law of nations, with an extreme audacity and impudence, and Douglas, who could not be ignorant of what was said about him, had the hardihood to go about everywhere as usual; to show himself at the theatre; and to present himself before M. le Duc d’Orleans.

This Prince ignored as much as he could a plot so cowardly and so barbarous, and in respect to him so insolent.  He kept silence, said to Stair what he judged fitting to make him be silent likewise, but gave liberty to his English assassins.  Douglas, however, fell much in the favour of the Regent, and many considerable people closed their doors to him.  He vainly tried to force mine.  But as for me I was a perfect Jacobite, and quite persuaded that it was the interest of France to give England domestic occupation, which would long hinder her from thinking of foreign matters.  I then, as may be supposed, could not look upon the odious enterprise with a favourable eye, or pardon its authors.  Douglas complained to me of my disregard for him, but to no purpose.  Soon after he disappeared from Paris.  I know not what became of him afterwards.  His wife and his children remained there living by charity.  A long time after his death beyond the seas, the Abbe de Saint-Simon passed from Noyan to Metz, where he found his widow in great misery.