truth； to give the most detailed information regarding every thing
that concerns this affair； and your eminence will have the goodness
to remember that we are the secular priests of God； before whom
every accused person must confess the whole truth with a perfect
conscience。〃
〃I thank you； Mr。 President；〃 said the cardinal； with so gentle and
tremulous a voice； that you might hear after it a faint sob from
some deeply…veiled ladies who sat on the spectators' seats； and so
that even the eyes of President de l'Aigro filled with tears〃 I
thank you； Mr。 President；〃 repeated the cardinal； breathing more
freely。 〃You take a heavy burden from my heart； and your wisdom
instructs me as to my own duty。〃
The president blushed with pleasure at the high praises of the
cardinal。
〃And now；〃 he said； 〃I take the liberty of repeating my question；
did the Countess Lamotte…Valois succeed in procuring for your
eminence a secret audience with the queen？〃
〃She did；〃 replied the cardinal； 〃she did procure an interview for
me。〃
And compelling himself to a quiet manner； he went on with his story：
The Countess de Valois came to him after two days with a joyful
countenance； and brought to him the request to accompany the
Countess Valois two days after to Versailles； where； in the garden；
in a place indicated by the countess； the meeting of the queen and
the cardinal should take place。 The cardinal was to put on the
simple； unpretending dress of a citizen of Paris； a blue cloth coat；
a round hat； and high leather boots。 The cardinal； full of
inexpressible delight at this； could； notwithstanding； scarcely
believe that the queen would show him this intoxicating mark of her
favor； upon which the Countess Valois； laughing； showed him a letter
of the queen； directed to her； on gold…bordered paper； and signed
like the note which he had received before〃 Marie Antoinette of
France。〃 In this note the queen requested her dear friend to go
carefully to work to warn the cardinal to speak softly during the
interview； because there were ears lurking in the neighborhood； and
not to come out from the thicket till the queen should give a sign。
After reading this letter； the cardinal had no more doubts； but
surrendered himself completely to his joy； his impatience； and
longed for the appointed hour to arrive。 At last this hour came；
and； in company with the countess； the cardinal； arrayed in the
appointed dress； repaired in a simple hired carriage to Versailles。
The countess led him to the terrace of the palace； where she
directed the cardinal to hide behind a clump of laurel…trees； and
then left him； in order to inform the queen； who walked every
evening in the park； in company with the Count and Countess
d'Artois； of the presence of the cardinal； and to conduct her to
him。 The latter now remained alone； and； with loud…beating heart；
listened to every sound； and； moving gently around； looked down the
long alley which ran between the two fountains； in order to catch
sight of the approach of the queen。 It was a delightful evening； the
full moon shone in golden clearness from the deep…blue sky； and
illuminated all the objects in the neighborhood with a light like
that of day。 It now disclosed a tall； noble figure； clad in a dark…
red robe； and with large blue pins in her hair； hurrying to the
terrace； and followed by the Countess Valois。
To the present moment the cardinal had slightly doubted as to his
unmeasurable good fortunenow he doubted no more。 It was the queen；
Marie Antoinette； who was approaching。 She wore the same dress； the
same coiffure which she had worn the last Sunday； when after the
mass he had gone to Versailles to drive。
Yes； it was the queen； who was hurrying across the terrace； and
approaching the thicket behind which the cardinal was standing。
〃Come；〃 whispered she； softly； and the cardinal quickly emerged from
the shade； sank upon his knee before the queen； and eagerly pressed
the fair hand which she extended to him to his lips。 〃Your
eminence；〃 whispered the queen to him； 〃I can unfortunately spend
only a moment here。 I cherish nothing against you； and shall soon
show you marks of my highest favor。 Meantime； accept this token of
my grace。〃 And Marie Antoinette took a rose from her bosom and gave
it to the cardinal。 〃Accept； also； this remembrancer；〃 whispered the
queen； again placing a little case in his hand。 〃It is my portrait。
Look often at it； and never doubt me； I〃
At this moment the Countess Valois； who had been waiting at some
distance； hastily came up。
〃Some one is coming；〃 whispered she； 〃for God's sake； your majesty；
fly！〃
Voices were audible in the distance； and soon they approached。 The
queen grasped the hand of the Countess Lamotte。
〃Come； my friend；〃 said she。 〃Farewell； cardinal； au revoir！〃
Full of joy at the high good fortune which had fallen to him； and at
the same time saddened at the abrupt departure of the queen； the
cardinal turned back to Paris。 On the next day the Countess Valois
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