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〃My lord；〃 cried the countess； springing up；〃 you seem to want to
hint that Count Lamotte played a false game。 You surely would not
venture to say this if the count were free； for he would challenge
you for this insult； and it is well known that his stroke is fatal
to those who stand in the way of his dagger。〃
〃I hint at nothing； and I merely call things by their right names；〃
replied the president； smiling。 〃In consequence of strong suspicions
of false play； Count Lamotte was driven out of his regiment； and as
the young pair had in the meantime consumed the stolen wedding…
money； they must discover some new way of making a living。 The young
husband repaired to the south of France to continue his card…
playing； the young wife； having for her fortune her youth and the
splendor of her name； repaired to Paris； both resolved de corriger
la fortune wherever and however they could。 〃This； madame；〃
continued the president； after a pause； 〃this is the true answer to
my question； how you are called； and who you are。〃
〃The answer is； however； not yet quite satisfactory；〃 replied
Lamotte； in an impudent tone。 〃You have forgotten to add that I am
the friend of the cardinal； Prince Louis de Rohan； the confidante
and friend of Queen Marie Antoinette； and that both now want to do
me the honor to make me their bete de souffrance； and to let me
suffer for what they have done and are guilty of。 My whole crime
lies in this； that I helped the Queen of France gain the jewels for
which her idle and trivial soul longed； that I helped the amorous
and light…minded cardinal approach the object of his love； and
procured for him an interview with the queen。 That is all that can
be charged upon me； I procured for the queen the fine necklace of
Messrs。 Bohmer and Bassenge； I gave the cardinal； as the price of a
part of the necklace； a tender tete…a…tete with the queen。 The
cardinal will not deny that in the garden of Versailles he had a
rendezvous with the queen； that he kissed her hand and received a
rose from her； and the queen will be compelled to confess in the end
that the necklace is in her possession。 What blame can be laid on me
for this？〃
〃The blame of deception； of defalcation； of forgery； of calumny； of
theft；〃 replied the president； with solemn earnestness。 〃You
deceived Cardinal de Rohan in saying that you knew the queen； that
you were intimate with her； that she honored you with her
confidence。 You forged； or got some one to forge； the handwriting of
the queen； and prepared letters which you gave to the cardinal；
pretending that they came from the queen。 You misused the devotion
of the cardinal to the royal family； and caused his eminence to
believe that the queen desired his services in the purchase of the
necklace； and after the cardinal； full of pleasure； had been able to
do a service to the queen； had treated with Bohmer and Bassenge； had
paid a part of the purchase money； and gave you the necklace in
charge to be put into the queen's hands； you were guilty of theft；
for the queen knows nothing of the necklace； the queen never gave
you the honor of an audience； the queen never spoke with you； and no
one of the queen's companions ever saw the Countess Lamotte。〃
〃That means they disown me； they all disown me！〃 cried the countess；
with flaming rage； stamping upon the floor with her little satin…
covered foot。 〃But the truth will one day come to the light。 The
cardinal will not deny that the queen gave him a rendezvous at
Versailles； that she thanked him personally for the necklace which
she had procured through his instrumentality。〃
〃Yes； the truth will come to the light；〃 answered the president。 〃I
summon the crown attorney； M。 de Borillon； to present the charge
against the Countess Lamotte…Valois。〃
On this the attorney…general； Borillon； rose； and amid the
breathless silence of the assembly began to speak。 He painted the
countess as a crafty； skilful adventuress； who had come to Paris
with the determined purpose of making her fortune in whatever way it
could be done。 He then spoke of the destitution in which she had
lived at first； of the begging letters which she addressed to all
people of distinction； and especially to Cardinal de Rohan； in
consequence of his well…known liberality。 He painted in lively and
touching colors the scene where the cardinal； struck by the name of
the suppliant； went in person to the attic to convince himself
whether it were really true that a descendant of the Kings of France
had been driven to such poverty and humiliation； and to give her
assistance for the sake of the royal house； to which he was devoted
heart and soul。 He painted further how the cardinal； attracted by
the lively spirits； amiability； and intellectual character of
Lamotte…Valois； had given her his confidence； and believed what she
told him about her favor with the queen； and her intimate relations
with her。 〃The cardinal；〃 continued the attorney…general； 〃did not
doubt for a moment the trustworthiness of the countess； he had not
the least suspicion that he was appointed to become the victim of an
intriguer； who would take advantage of his noble spirit； his
magnanimity； to deceive him and to enrich herself。 The countess knew
the boundless devotion of the cardinal to the queen； she had heard
his complaints of the proud coldness； the public slights which she
offered to him。 On the other hand； she had heard of the costly
diamond necklace which Bohmer and Bassenge had repeatedly offered to
the queen； and that she had refused to take it on account of the
enormous price which they demanded for it。 On this the countess
formed her plan and it succeeded perfectly。 She caused the cardinal
to hope that he would soon have an audience of the queen； if he
would give solid assurances of his devotion； and when he professed
himself ready； she proposed to him； as acting under the queen's
instructions； the purchase of the necklace。 The cardinal declared
himself ready to accede； and the affair took the course already
indicated with such touching frankness and lofty truthfulness by his
eminence。 He brought the purchase to a conclusion； he paid the first
instalment of six hundred thousand francs； and gave the necklace to
the friend of the queen； the Countess Lamotte…Valois； after he had
availed himself of her assistance in receiving from the lips and
hand of the queen in the garden of Versailles the assurance of the
royal favor。 The countess at once brought the cardinal a paper from
the queen； stating that she had received the necklace； and conveying
to him the warm thanks of his queen。 The cardinal felt himself
richly rewarded by this for all his pains and outlays； and in the
joy of his heart wanted to repay her who； in so prudent and wise a
manner； had effected his reconciliation with the queen。 He settled
upon her a yearly pension of four thousand francs； payable her whole
life； and the countess accepted it with tears of emotion； and swore
eternal gratitude to the cardinal。 But while uttering this very oath
she was conspiring against her benefactor； and laughing in her
sleeve at the credulous prince who had fallen into the very net
which she had