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sleeve at the credulous prince who had fallen into the very net
which she had prepared for him。 Her most active ally was her
husband； whom she had long before summoned to Paris； and who was the
abetter of her intrigue。 The countess had now become a rich lady；
and was able to indulge all her cravings for splendor and luxury。
She who； down to that time； had stood as a supplicant before the
doors of the rich； could herself have a princely dwelling； and could
devote great sums to its adornment。 The most celebrated makers were
called on； to furnish the furniture and the decorations； and； as if
by a touch of magic； she was surrounded by fabulous luxury； the
fairest equipages stood ready for her； the finest horses in her
stable； and a troop of lackeys waited upon the beck of the fair lady
who displayed her princely splendor before them。 A choice silver
service glittered upon her table； and she possessed valuables worth
more than a hundred thousand francs。 More than this； she enjoyed the
best of all； a tender and devoted husband； who overloaded her with
presents； from London； whither he was called by pressing family
affairs； he sent his wife a medallion of diamonds； which was
subsequently estimated at two hundred and thirty louis…d'ors； and a
pearl bracelet worth two hundred louis…d'ors。 Returning from his
journey； he surprised his wife with a new and splendid present。 He
had purchased a palace in Bar…sur…Aube； and thither the whole costly
furniture of his hired house was carried。 Would you know where all
these rare gifts wore drawn？ The Countess Lamotte had broken the
necklace； and taken the stones from their setting。 For the gold
alone which was used in the setting she received forty thousand
francs； for one of the diamonds； which she sold in Paris； she
received fifty thousand francs； for another； thirty…six thousand。
The diamonds of uncommon size and immense worth she did not dare to
dispose of in Paris； and her husband was compelled to journey to
London to sell a portion of them there。 On his return thence he was
able to buy for his wife the house in Bar…sur…Aube； for the sum
received in London was four hundred thousand francs in gold； in
addition to the pearls and the diamond medallion which he brought
his wife from London。 And of all this luxury； this extravagance；
Cardinal de Rohan had naturally no suspicion。 When he visited her；
where did the countess receive him？ In a poorly…furnished attic…
chamber of the house hired by her。 In simple； modest attire； She met
him there and told him with trembling voice that the rich countess
who lived in the two lower stories of the house had allowed her to
have this suite next to the roof gratis。 But when danger approached；
and Lamotte began to fear that Bohmer and Bassenge； in claiming
their pay from the queen； would bring the history of the necklace to
the light； the countess came to the cardinal to pay her parting
respects； as she was going into the country to a friend to live in
the greatest privacy。 She left Paris merely to repair to Bar…sur…
Aube and live in her magnificent palace。 She tarried there so long
as to allow the police detectives to discover in the rich and
elegant lady the intriguer Lamotte…Valois； and to effect the
imprisonment of her husband and his friend； the so…called Count
Cagliostro。 Her other abetters had put themselves out of sight； and
were not to be discovered。 However； their arrest was not specially
necessary； for the facts were already sufficiently strong and clear。
Some of the diamonds which Lamotte had sold in London were brought
back to Paris； and had been recognized by Bohmer and Bassenge as
belonging to the necklace which they had sold to the queen。 The
goldsmith had been discovered to whom the countess had sold the
golden setting of the necklace； and Bohmer and Bassenge had
recognized in the fragments which remained their own work。 It is
unquestionable that the Countess Lamotte…Valois； through her
intrigues and cunning； had been able to gain possession of the
necklace； and that she had appropriated it to her own use。 The
countess is therefore guilty of theft and deception。 She is；
moreover； guilty of forgery； for she has imitated the handwriting of
the queen； and subscribed it with the royal name。 But the hand is
neither that of the queen； nor does the queen ever subscribe herself
'Marie Antoinette of France。' This makes Lamotte open to the charge
of both forgery and contempt of majesty； for she has even dared to
drag the sacred person of the Queen of France into her mesh of lies；
and to make her majesty the heroine of a dishonorable love…
adventure。〃
〃My lord；〃 cried Countess Lamotte； with a loud laugh； 〃you are not
driven to the necessity of involving the queen in dishonorable love…
adventures。 The queen is in reality the heroine of so many
adventures of this character； that you can have your choice of them。
A queen who visits the opera…house balls incognito； drives thither
masked and in a fiacre； and who appears incognito on the terraces of
Versailles with strange soldiers； exchanging jocose words with them…
…a queen of the type of this Austrian may not wonder to find her
name identified with the heroine of a love…adventure。 But we are
speaking now not of a romance； but of a reality； and I am not to be
accused of forgery and contempt of majesty without having the proofs
brought forward。 This cannot； however； be done； for I have the
proofs of my innocence。 The cardinal had an interview with the
queen； and she gave him a receipt for the diamonds。 If she wrote her
signature differently from her usual manner； it is not my fault。 It
only shows that the queen was cunning enough to secure an alibi； so
to speak； for her signature； and to leave a rear door open for
herself； through which she could slip with her exalted name； in case
the affair was discovered； and leave me to be her bete de
souffrance。 But I am by no means disposed to accept this part； for I
declare here solemnly； before God and man； that I am innocent of the
crime laid to my charge。 I was only a too true and devoted friend；
that is all！ I sacrificed my own safety and peace to the welfare of
my exalted friends； and I now complain of them that they have
treated me unthankfully in this matter。 But they must bear the
blame； they alone。 Let the queen show that she did not give the
cardinal a rendezvous in the park of Versailles； let her further
show that she did not sign the promissory note； and the letters to
his eminence； and then I shall be exposed to the charge of being a
deceiver and a traitor。 But so long as this is not doneand it
cannot be done； for God is just； and will not permit the innocent to
suffer for the guiltyso long will all France； yes； all Europe； be
convinced that the queen is the guilty one； that she received the
jewels； and paid the cardinal for them as a coquette and light…
minded woman does； with tender words； with smiles and loving looks；
and； last of all； with a rendezvous！〃
〃You are right；〃 said the attorney…general； as the countess ceased；
and looked around her with a victorious smile〃you are quite right；
God IS just； and He will not permit the innocent to suffer f