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brought a billet from the queen； in which she deeply regretted that
their interview yesterday had been so brief； and promising a speedy
appointment again。 Some days after this occurrence； which constantly
occupied the mind of the cardinal； he was obliged to go to Alsace；
to celebrate a church festival。 On the very next day； however； came
the husband of the countess； Count Lamotte； sent as a courier by the
countess。 He handed the cardinal a letter from the queen； short and
full of secrecy； like the earlier ones。
〃The moment；〃 wrote the queen〃 the moment which I desired is not
yet come。 But I beg you to return at once to Paris； because I am in
a secret affair； which concerns me personally； and which I shall
intrust to you alone； and in which I need your assistance。 The
Countess Lamotte…Valois will give you the key to this riddle。〃
As if on the wings of birds； the cardinal returned to Paris； and at
once repaired to the little palace which the countess had purchased
with the fruits of his liberality。 Here he learned of her the reason
of his being sent for。 The matter in question was the purchasing of
a set of jewels； which the royal jewellers； Bohmer and Bassenge； had
often offered to the queen。 Marie Antoinette had seen the necklace；
and had been enraptured with the size and beauty of the diamonds。
But she had had the spirit to refuse to purchase the collar； in
consequence of the enormous price which the jewellers demanded。 She
had； however； subsequently regretted her refusal； and the princely
set of gems； the like of which did not exist in Europe； had awakened
the most intense desire on the part of the queen to possess it。 She
wanted to purchase it secretly； without the knowledge of the king；
and to pay for it gradually out of the savings of her own purse。 But
just then the jewellers Bohmer and Bassenge had it in view to send
the necklace to Constantinople for the Sultan； who wanted to present
it to the best…loved of his wives。
But before completing the sale； the crown jewellers made one more
application to the queen； declaring that if she would consent to
take the necklace； they would be content with any conditions of
payment。 In the mean time； the private treasury of the queen was
empty。 The severe winter had induced much suffering and misfortune；
and the queen had given all her funds to the poor。 But as she
earnestly desired to purchase the necklace； she would give her grand
almoner a special mark of her favor in granting to him the
commission of purchasing it in her name。 He should receive a paper
from the queen's own hand authorizing the purchase； yet he should
keep this to himself； and show it only to the court jewellers at the
time of the purchase。 The first payment of six hundred thousand
francs the cardinal was to pay from his own purse； the remaining
million the queen would pay in instalments of one hundred thousand
francs each； at the expiration of every three months。 In the next
three months； the six hundred thousand francs advanced by the
cardinal should be refunded。
The cardinal felt himself highly flattered by this token of the
queen's confidence； and desired nothing more than the written
authorization of the queen； empowering him to make the purchase at
once。 This document was not waited for long。 Two days only passed
before the Countess Lamotte…Valois brought it； dated at Trianon； and
subscribed Marie Antoinette of France。 Meanwhile some doubts arose
in the mind of the cardinal。 He turned to his friend and adviser；
Count Cagliostro； for counsel。 The latter had cured him years before
while very sick； and since that time had always been his
disinterested friend； and the prophet； so to speak； who always
indicated the cardinal's future to him。 This man； so clear in his
foresight； so skilful in medicine； was now taken into confidence；
and his advice asked。 Count Cagliostro summoned the spirits that
waited upon him； before the cardinal； one solitary night。 He asked
these invisible presences what their counsel was； and the oracle
answered； that the affair was one worthy of the station of the
cardinal； that it would have a fortunate issue； that it put the seal
upon the favors of the queen； and would usher in the fortunate day
which would bring the great talents of the cardinal into employment
for the benefit of France and the world。 The cardinal doubted and
hesitated no longer。 He went at once to the court jewellers Bohmer
and Bassenge： he did not conceal from them that he was going to buy
the necklace in the name of the queen； and showed them the written
authorization。 The jewellers entered readily into the transaction。
The cardinal made a deposit of six hundred thousand francs； and
Bohmer and Bassenge gave him the necklace。 It was the day before a
great festival； and at the festival the queen wanted to wear the
necklace。 In the evening a trusted servant of the queen was to take
the necklace from the dwelling of the Countess Lamotte…Valois。 The
countess herself requested the cardinal to be present； though
unseen； when the delivery should take place。
In accordance with this agreement； the cardinal repaired to the
palace of the countess on the evening of February 1st； 1784；
accompanied by a trusted valet； who carried the casket with the
necklace。 At the doorway he himself took the collar and gave it to
the countess。 She conducted the cardinal to an alcove adjoining her
sitting…room。 Through the door provided with glass windows he could
dimly see the sitting…room。
After some minutes the main entrance opened； and a voice cried： 〃In
the service of the queen！〃 A man in the livery of the queen； whom
the cardinal had often seen at the countess's； and whom she had told
was a confidential servant of the queen； entered and demanded the
casket in the name of the queen。 The Countess Valois took it and
gave it to the servant； who bowed and took his leave。 At the moment
when the man departed； bearing this costly set of jewels； the
cardinal experienced an inexpressible sense of satisfaction at
having had the happiness of conferring a service upon the Queen of
France； the wife of the king； the mother of the future king；not
merely in the purchase of the diamonds which she desired； but still
more in preventing the young and impulsive woman from taking the
unbecoming step of applying to any other gentleman of the court for
this assistance。
At these words the spectators broke into loud exclamations； and one
of the veiled ladies cried： 〃Lords Vaudreuil and Coigny would not
have paid so much； but they would have demanded more。〃 And this
expression； too； was greeted with loud acclaims。
The first president of the court； Baron de L'Aigre； here cast a
grave look toward the tribune where the spectators sat； but his
reproach died away upon lips which disclosed a faint inclination to
smile。
〃I now beg your eminence；〃 he said； 〃to answer the following
question： 〃 Did Queen Marie Antoinette personally thank you for the
great service which； according to your showing； you did her？ How is
it with the payments which the queen pledged herself to make？〃
The cardinal was silent for a short time； and looked sadly before
him。 〃Since