In 1870 he was involved in a bloody street brawl with the son-in-law of a Brazilian senator who did not appreciate having his nation being put down.[122] As a result of the brawl, Pedro II asked Paris to have his friend recalled, or he would declare him persona non-grata.[122] Rather than suffer the humiliation of this happening to the French minister the Quai d'Orsay promptly recalled Gobineau.[122]