Marie Antoinette and Her Son

sumed his own proper clothing. He drew on the long, gray coat, the short trousers of black velvet, the long, gold embroidered waistcoat of gray

ntered the little apartment where his chief min

king, "do you bring bad news? Ha

hing unexpected at all events, but whether somethin

d the king. "Then do

eption, and, as it seems, of a defalcation inv

sigh of relief, "then the tr

which concerns the

rning flush of indignat

n to assail the honor o

o so. And at this time it is so infernal and deeply-laid a plan that it will be difficult to ge

ly, taking his seat upon a wooden stool, an

will venture to sit, because I am in fact a

e king, drawing out his tobacco-box, and in

ur majesty remember the beautiful necklace which the court jewelle

she always is. It was told me that her majesty had very much admired the necklace which Bohmer had showed to her, and yet had declined to purc

wing. "All Paris repeated with delight the words which her majesty uttered: 'Sir, we have more diamonds

. Bohmer has twice made the attempt since then to sell this costly necklace to me,

ur majesty would purchase it. Years ago he caused stones to be selected through all Europe, wishing to make a necklace of diamonds which should be alike l

as at last weary of the trouble, and gave command tha

rough his instrumentality, the queen could possess the finest diamonds in Europe, and imploring her majesty not to forget her court jeweller. The queen read this letter, laughing, to her lady-in-waiting, Madame de Campan, and sai

know these details?" aske

de Campan herself, as I was compelled

with that?" asked the king, wiping with a lace handkerchief

s that he sold the necklace of brilliants

d sell the necklace to the queen, there must have been witnesses present to con

, through a third hand, and that this confidential messenger was empowered t

s confidential messenger

mnly-"sire, it is the cardinal and grand alm

oud cry, and sprang

hates, whom she scorns, into relations with her? Ha, Breteuil! you can

and has delivered the necklace to the cardinal, and recei

How do you know

nderstand it. But as he stated in it that the queen's lady-in-waiting advised him to apply to me as the minister of the royal house, I considered it best to sp

n in Trianon?"

n there, and was most anxious to speak to the queen. He had been d

"let us go to Trianon

mp

left the mill, and shunning the main road in order not to be seen by the

ere the lady-in-waiting was-"Campan, the minister has just been telling me a sing

low, "does your majesty command that I sp

bout it. Thank God, the queen withholds no secrets from me! I thank you for your question, Campan. It is better that the queen be present at our

t the chamberlain, Weber, who was in the little o

family. Hasten, Weber! And now, baron," continued the king, closing the door, "now you shall be convinced by your own eyes and ears that the queen will be as amazed and as little acquainted with all these things as I myself. I wish, therefore, that you would be present at the interview which I shall have with my wife and Campan, w

to the small r

pass that way

to take the same way which your maj

open, and do you, Campan, loosen the curtains and let them fal

toilet-chamber, with glowing cheeks, and under visible excitement. Th

I have disturbed you in th

queen, impatiently. "What is

ajesty is involved in a disagreeable and absurd plot. The court jeweller, Bohmer, asserts

d the queen. "Is that all yo

at the conversation which sh

-waiting, who, at the entrance of the queen, had m

first perceiving Campan. "What do

ut the conversation which I had yesterday with Boh

possesses this unfortunate necklace, with which he has been making a martyr of me for yea

came with visible disquiet and perplexity, and asked me whether your majesty had left no commission for him. I answered him that the queen had not done so, that in one word she had no commission for him, and that she was tired of his eternal pestering. ' But,' s

, horrified. "How can the miserabl

ty owed him a million and some five hundred thousand francs, and when I asked him in complete amaz

after year I hear perpetually about this necklace, and it has been quite in vain that, with all my care and good-will, I have so

e," said the king, seriously.

old the necklace to the Sultan. Then he replied that the queen had ordered him to give this answer to every one that asked about the necklace

d despise? And is there a man in France who can believe this, and who doe

e little secretary of Sevres porcelain, which stands near to the chimney in her boudoir.' 'And did the cardinal really say that?' I asked; and when he reaffirmed it, I told him that he was deceived. He now began to be very much troubled, and said, 'Good Heaven! what if you are right, what if I am deceived! There has already a suspicion come to me; the cardinal promised me that on Whit-sunday the queen would wear the collar, an

n of this statue; a glowing purple-red diffused itself over her cheeks, and directing her eyes, which blazed with wonderful fire, to the king, she said, with a loud and commanding voice, "Sire, you have heard this story. Your wife is accused,

, directing an affectionate glance at the exc

king turned to his wife and said: "I wished that he might be a secret witness

extending her hand to him, "so you did

madame, we will consider with Breteuil what is to be done, and then we wi

illes. It was a great holiday, Ascension-day, and the king and the queen, with the entire court, inten

inal wore today a beaming expression, and his great black eyes were continually directed, while he was talking with the Duke de Conti and the Count d'Artois, toward the door through which the royal couple would enter. All at once the portal opened, a royal page stepped in and glanced s

nversation with Lord Conti, hurried th

rmed by a window, the premier, Baron Breteuil, the old and irreconcilable enemy of the proud cardina

the cold look of the king and the flaming eye of the queen appea

iamonds of Bohmer?" ask

" answered

with them? Answer

ter a pause, "I supposed that

d you with th

sty, and I believed that I should be doing the queen a favor if I should undert

with a commission in my behalf? I, who for eight years have never deigned to best

e. I will pay for the necklace. The earnest wish to please your majesty has blinded your eyes regardi

he disgrace which you have brought upon your queen? No, no, sir; I desire a rigid investigation. I insist upon it that all who have taken part in this igno

er. "Here are the proofs of my innocence," continued he, drawing a small portfolio from his pocket, and taking from it a folde

ly, read the signature, and gave it, with a s

prey, and with breathless haste ran over the paper. Then she broke out into loud, scornfu

oner of France- how are you so ignorant, so foolish, as to believe that I could subscribe myself 'Marie Antoinette of

f the queen, and so weak that he had to rest upon the table f

confess that you wrote this letter to Bohmer, in which you send him thirty

he cardinal, with a low voice, which

h, and making up her little hand into a clinched fist

the jewels for the queen. Di

Countess Lamo

name, c

a receipt to the queen for one hundred and fifty thous

d did you have

mning look of the queen resting upon him, the red blood mounted int

ueen rewarded me for this little work of love in a manner worthy of

aloud, and, springing forward like a tigress,

or, bringing infamy upon a queen! Will you b

do your duty. And you, cardinal, who venture to accuse your qu

red the cardin

raising his hand and pointing toward

e hall filled with a glittering throng, who were s

n behind him, upon the threshold of the roy

er in command of the guard, "lieutenant, in the name of the king, arr

ke a crashing thunder-clap through the careless, coquetting,

who, pale as death, and yet maintaining

cardinal, like all in fact, approached the

name of the king, I arrest your eminence. I am ord

ay slowly through the throng, which respectfully opened to let him

round once more to the hall. Standing erect, with all the exalted dignit

convey the horrible tidings to Versailles and Paris, that the king had caused the cardinal, the gr

ed the more the report enlarged,

de Rohan to buy jewels for herself, jewels while the people hungered. Now, when the cardinal wants his mo

to the A

on which Marat was. "We shall not forget it that she buys her jewels for milli

ised their fists and muttered