Marie Antoinette and Her Son

decided. The friends and relatives of the cardinal had had time to manipulate not only public opinion, but also to w

e agitation and freedom party, who thundered in their clubs against the realm, and held it to be their sacred duty to destroy the nimbus which, had hitherto enveloped the throne, and to show to the hungering people that the queen who lived in luxury was nothing more than a light-minded, voluptuous woman,-all these enemies of the queen had had time to gain over public opinion and the judges. The trial had been a

ere willing to receive them, made use of mercenary authors to hurl libellous pamphlets at the queen, published brochures which, in dignified language, defended the cardinal in advance, and exhibited him as the vic

s to be decided. The night before, the cardinal had been transferred from the Bas

ts of Rohan and the Agitators of Freedom, as Marat and his companions called thems

dinal, Louis de Rohan. But in spite of the danger of the situation, the noble face of the cardinal was completely undisturbed, and his bearing princely. He appeared in his full priestly array, substituting in place of the purple-red under- garment one of violet, as cardinals do when they appear in mourning. Over this

at she had not only been received by the queen, but that Marie Antoinette had been exceedingly gracious to her, and had requested her to visit her often. From this day on, the countess had naturally gained new favor in the eyes of the cardinal, for she often went to Versailles; and from the accounts of her visits there, when she returned, it was clear that she stood in high favor with the queen. But now, unfortunately, the cardinal found himself in precisely the opposite situation. He stood in extreme disfavor with the queen. She never condescended to bestow a glance upon him, nor a word. The cardinal was for a long time inconsolable on account of this, and sought in vain to regain the favor of the queen. This he intrusted with the deepest confidence to the Countess Lamotte- Valois, and she, full of friendly zeal, had undertaken to speak to the queen in his behalf. Some days later she told the cardinal that she had fulfilled her promise; she had painted his sadness in such moving words that the q

cardinal: "Are you still in possess

I was arrested in Versailles, they lay in my breast coat-pocket. It was my fortune, and the misfortune of those who, after I had been carried to the Bastile, burst

k from it a small folded paper, and laid

while, I am sorry not to be able to give you the audience which you ask. As soon, however, as circumstances allow me, I shal

d over against them. The glances of the president of the high court, directed themselves, after he had read the letter and laid it upon the green table, to the great digni

one of the guards ran to bring one of the broad, comfortable chairs of t

ld almost have suspected that the cardinal, in his magnificent costume, with his noble, lofty bearing, his peaceful, passionless face, and sitting in his arm- chair, alone

sked the president of the court, after a pause. The cardina

, she continued on all occasions, where he had the happiness to be in her presence, to treat him with extreme disdain. On one Sunday, when he was reading mass before their majesties, he took the liberty to enter the audience-room and to address the queen. Marie Antoinette bestowed upon him only

her that he should hold all that she had brought him from the queen to be false, unless, within a very short time, she could procure what he had so long and so urgently besought, namely, an audience with the queen. He desired this audience as a proof that Marie Antoinette was really changed, and, at the same time, as a proof that the Countess Lamotte-Valois had told him the truth. The countess laughed at his distrust, and promise

, the Guemenes, the Count de Vergennes, and all the most powerful enemies of the queen, who had taken advantage of this occasion in order to avenge th

er this murmur of applause marked enough

te-Valois procure for you t

assumed for the first time a troubled expression, and the painful s

eveal to the open light of day the favors which have been granted by her. But I must take this crime upon myself, because I have to defend the honor of a priest, even of a dignitary in the Church, and also because I do not dare to suffer my purple to be soiled with even the suspicion of a lie

of the Church commands you to go before all other men in setting them a noble example, and one worthy of imitation. It is your sacred duty, in accordance with the demands of truth, to give the most detailed information regar

ly-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. Pres

th pleasure at the high

uestion, did the Countess Lamotte-Valois succeed in procu

cardinal, "she did proc

l 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

al 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

bted no more. It was the queen, Marie Antoinette, who was approaching. She wore the same dress, the sa

ross the terrace, and approaching the thic

red 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

lois, who had been waiting at

ispered she; "for God's

nd soon they approached. The queen gra

aid she. "Farewell,

ich 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 ce

to Paris, because I am in a secret affair, which concerns me personally, and which I shall intrust to you al

rie 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

er 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 a

'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

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 cond

he 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

ladies cried: "Lords Vaudreuil and Coigny would not have paid so much, but they wo

ve look toward the tribune where the spectators sat, but his reproa

ie Antoinette personally thank you for the great service which, according to your show

e jewellers, and when she sent neither to me nor to the jewellers a word. Upon this a fearful suspicion began to trouble me,-that my devotion to the queen might have been taken advantage of, in order to deceive and mislead me. When this dreadful thought seized me, I shuddered, and had not power to look down into the abyss which suddenly yawned beneath me. I at once summoned the Countess Lamotte, and desired her solution of this inexplicable conduct of the queen. She told me that she had been on the point of coming to me and informing me, at the request of the queen, that other necessary outlays had prevented the queen's paying me the six hundred thousand francs that I had disbursed to Bohmer at the purchase of the necklace, and that she must be content with paying the interest o

nt made his face pale. He bowed his head, folded

silent. No one was able to break the solemn stil

, the president asked gently: "And so your eminence saw the note of the qu

and of the queen, but that she had dictated them. But the signatures were the queen's, she could take her oath of it. I again took a little courage; but soon after the countess had left me, the jewellers came in the highest excitement to me, to tell me that, receiving no payments from the queen, they had applied in writing to her several times, without receiving any answer; their efforts to obtain an audience were also all in vain, and so they had at last applied to the first lady-in-waiting on the queen, Madame de Campan, with whom they had j

position of this sad history," said the president, solemnly. "Your eminenc

stood, and respectfully returned the salutation. [Footnot

ors' seats, cried with trembling voice: "God ble

rds yet rang, the cardinal, followed by the officers w

with a loud voice, "bring in the acc

oor which the guards now opened, and

ruby lips encircled by a pert, and at the same time a mocking smile, which displayed two rows of the finest teeth. With this smile upon her lips she moved forward with a light and spirited step, turning her

not the least excitement was apparent-" gentlemen, are we here in a theatre, where the

eigned to give no answer, but turned with an expressi

hall a wooden seat of rough, clumsy form, to whose high back

sed countess with her air of assurance and self-con

ers, and looked at the offered seat with an expression of indignation.

e accused is ready for you, and the chains upon i

ance upon the venturesome officer, but he did not appear to be in the least a

ed to summon the police; we shall then compel you to take the seat, and i

s, nowhere an expression of sympathy. But it was just this which seemed to give her courage and to steel her strength. She raised her head proudly, forced the smile again upon her lips, and took her seat upon the chair with a grace and dig

ill magnanimously pretend not to have heard that question, in order to answer the others. You wish to know my name? I am the Countess Lamotte-Valois of France, the latest descendant of the former Kings of Prance; and if in this unhappy land, which is trodden to the dust by a stupid king and a dissolute qu

at these words, and this daring calumny upon the q

neither to the name nor the rank of their fathers. Since, in respect to your name and rank, you have answered with an untruth, I will tell you who and what you are. Your father was a poor peasant in the village of Auteuil. He called himself Valois, and the clerg

the kindness of Madame de Boulainvillier, and the old lady hastened to comply with this recommendati

e had shown kindnesses to the descendants of the K

executed. Your grandfather was an illegitimate son of the counterfeiter Valois. That is the sum total of your relation to the royal family of France. It is possible that upon this very chair on which you now

seat, but instantly the heavy hand of the officer was laid upon her shoul

ud sob upon the chair, and for the first time a death-lik

to provide for her whole future; when one day the young Valois disappeared from the chateau of Madame de Boulainvillier. She had eloped with the sub-lieutenant, Count Lamotte, and announced to her benefactress, in a letter which she left behind, that she was escaping from the slavery in which she had hitherto lived, and that she left her curse to

that I robbed this sum. It was the dowry which Madame de Boulainvillier had promised to give me in case of my marriage, and I only took what was my own, as I was u

the president, quietly. "Madame de Boulainvillier held her peace, and re

tars to assume the president's chair of this

thout heeding the int

province, and sought to increase his meagre salary by many ingenious devices. He not merely gave instruction in fen

e game. You surely would not venture to say this if the count were free, for he would challenge you for

me 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

y 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 ga

ters 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 Bo

le satin- covered foot. "But the truth will one day come to the light. The cardinal will not deny that the queen gave him a r

esident. "I summon the crown attorney, M. de Borillon, t

he 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 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 jo

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

ght, God IS just, and He will not permit the innocent to suffer for the guilty. He will not let your infernal intrigue stand as tru

ling, "those are very high- soundi

ney-general, turning to one of the guards. "Let t

ading to the witness-room; he entered the adjoining apartment, but s

d the officer, aloud. "As she must be separated some hours fr

ring look at the judges, wh

of Nature; all waited noiselessly ti

oman's figure, at whose unexpected appearance a cry of amazement rose from the l

rayish-blue eyes; her high forehead; her beautiful, chestnut-brown hair, arranged in exactly the manner that Leonard, the queen's hair-dresser, was accustomed to dress hers. The rest of her toilet, also, was precisely like that of the queen when she appeared in the gardens of Ver

on the tribune, who often enough had seen the monarch close at hand and had spoken with her, looked in astonishment at the e

Countess Lamotte-Valois, no one had noticed how she shrank back, and then started fr

r had noticed this movement, and with a

e from your chair after being told to sit

ad, as it appeared, regained her whole

but as I see that no one else stands up, and that they allow the queen to enter without ri

dges sat, greeting them with a friendly nod and smile which caused her lips to part. Again there passed through the hall a wave of amazement, for now, when the lady opened her mouth, the first dissimilarity to the queen appeared.

and what are you calle

nd a good wife. Do you now want to know what I am called? Down to the present time I am called Mademoiselle Oliva. You had me arrested in Brussels and brought here exactly nine days before the appointed time of my marriage with my dear George. He had promised me that our child should be able to regard us as regularly married people, and he wanted to keep his promise, but you prevented him, and it is your fault that my dear little boy was born in prison, a

tribune looked with sympathy upon this fair woman, whose faithful

demoiselle Oliva?"

s soon as I leave the prison I shall be married, and then I shall be called Madame Georg

sunlight over all the countenances of the spectators. Even the rigid features of the attorney-

to play comedies, and that you are sometimes content with even the minor parts. Now, do not look at me, Mrs. Queen, with such a withering look. Do n

sed allows herself to speak a single word wi

obedience, and drew out the wooden gag, which he

he living portrait of the queen. "I will call you madame, if you

child," answered Mademois

u know the person who

uick look at Lamotte, who g

ow her name, I only know that she lives in a splendid

ow this lady?

o one of the eating-houses and dine with me. He accepted my proposition, and we dined together, and were merry and jolly enough for a new acquaintance. When we parted we promised to meet there again on the morrow, and so we did. After the second dinner, the amiable gentleman conducted me home, and there told me that he was very distinguished and influential, that he had friends at court, a

lady?" asked

er thumb over her shoulder.

u sure

wn life, Mr

saw the lady qu

g me to the court and make a great lady out of me, if I would do what she wanted me to do. I promised it gladly, and declared myself ready to d

to go to the court and speak

people say, does nothing but what the queen tells him to, I wanted of course before every thing to have a good word from the queen. I should hav

ell that t

part in a little comedy, which she was privately preparing; that I was just the person to play this part, and if I would do it well and tell nobody in the world, not even George, when he should come home from Brussels, she would not only give me her help in th

gerous game that they wanted yon to play, and fo

subject it was my duty to obey the queen, and show devotion to her in all things, more particularly when she was going to pay so magnificently. Meantime, I comforted myself that it could be nothing bad and criminal that the queen could order done, and the countess assured me that too, and told me that every thing I had to do was to represent anot

or whom you were playing this part,

othing at all, else I should receive only half of the money; and, besides, if they noticed that I knew what I was doing, I might be sent to the Bastile. I was still upon that, and did

e you a less

o Versailles. They walked with me in the park, and at a place near the pavilion they stood still, and said to me: 'Here is where you will play your little comedy to-morrow; this is the spot which the queen has herself appointed, and every thing which takes place is at the express command of her majesty.' That entirely q

a suit did she

ap. Then she drove me into the park, gave me a letter, and said: 'You will give this letter to a gentleman who will meet us.' We went in silence through the paths and all

ountess alone, or was

made me some very deep reverences, I handed him the rose and the letter, and repeated the very words the countess had taught me. The gentleman sank upon his knee, and kissed the hand which I extended with the rose. At this moment we heard a noise, as if of men's steps approaching, and the countess came running up. 'For God's sake!' she cried, 'we are watched! Quick, quick, come!' and she drew me hurriedly away. We left the garden, and returned to the dwelling of the countess, and there I remained alone, for the countess and her husband said, laughing, that they must go and console the old gentleman for having so short a rendezvous, and for being so quickly disturbed. I asked whether I had done my part well, and the countess said that the queen was very well satisfied with me-that she had stood in the thicket, and had observed all. Early next morning we rode back to Paris, and when we had arrived at their hotel, the countess paid m

othing to a

ou know, also, that I swore to take my life if my dear George were not allowed to visit me daily in prison. You know that my dear child was born in prison, and that it is now half a year old, while his poor mother is accused, and

ild," said the preside

adame Oliva back to

llowed the officer, who opened the door of the adjoining room. As it swung back, a loud cry of a child was heard, and Madame O

n is calling, for he is longing for me. I

d, and the door c

ee now that we have the proof of the ignominious and treacherous intrigues which you have conducted. Wi

h which the queen goes through her part, and wondered how far her light-mindedness will carry her. She is truly an adroit

sked the preside

but another person? Do you not know that this witness, this living portrait of the queen, ha

s to make a very great sacrifice, and to disclose a secret of her beauty. She has laid aside her fine false teeth, and let us see her natural ones, in order that we may see a difference between

l laughter, which found a loud echo in

ike the sword of Damocles. You have already invoked your fate, in calling God to witness that the innocent shall not suffer for the guilty, and now this

et, God be thanked," cried La

eless deeds sooner than you expected

re to be displayed to you, it would be right to accuse you of high-treason. We have already exhibited the proof that it was not Queen Marie Antoinette who made an appointment with the cardinal in Versailles, but that it was the comedy planned and brought out

ess, "I am very curious to have

onfront you with him who at your direction imitated the handwriting o

ast witness who was to uncover the web of frauds of the countess's spinning. The great burning eyes of the accused, too, were turned to this door, and he

cry of amazement and rage broke

hands into fists and extending them toward the man who now en

which she had risen in her fright. A deathly paleness covered her chee

fter a brief pause. "Your own conscience testifies ag

resume her self-possessed manner, and

m hunger, overwhelmed with kindness, and whom my enemies have now brought up to make him testify against me! But it is over-I am now ready to see

who, bowing and trembling, advanced by the side of the officer to the green table, and se

etary of the Countess Lamotte-Valois. On further questioning, he declared that after the count and the countess had been arrested he had fled, and

o escape?" asked t

ng involved in the af

d Retaux de Vilet

umstantially, and you cannot take back what you testified then, for your denial would be of no avail. Answ

. I was poor; I lived unseen and unnoticed, and I wished to be rich, honored, and distinguished. The countess promised me all this. She would persuade the cardinal to advance me to ho

countess, with an expres

f you?" asked the president. "W

al," answered Retaux de Vilette. "The countess composed

u know her

s was printed in exact imitation of her hand. I copied the l

cried the countess,

y note to the jewellers, Bohmer an

now about it, for I wrote it at the directio

you a

nature of the

was there the subscript

o a mother (it was a letter written by the queen to her mother), but that in a document of a more business-like character there must be an official signature. We had a long discussion about

, stamping on the floor. "He

x de Vilette. "If you will give me writing-materials I will write the signat

d laid on a side-table. Retaux took the pen, and with a rapid hand wrote

te. He then passed the two to the attorney-general, and he to the judge next to him. The papers

ms to me irrefutable testimony that he was the writer of that signature, as well as of the letters to the cardinal.

s arose a

cry and fell, seized with fe

"Let the accused and the witnesses be removed, and the spectators' tribune be vacated. We

OK