marie antoinette and her son-第19部分

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In　accordance　with　this　agreement；　the　cardinal　repaired　to　the
palace　of　the　countess　on　the　evening　of　February　1st；　1784；
accompanied　by　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　conducted　the　cardinal　to　an　alcove　adjoining　her
sitting…room。　Through　the　door　provided　with　glass　windows　he　could
dimly　see　the　sitting…room。

After　some　minutes　the　main　entrance　opened；　and　a　voice　cried：　〃In
the　service　of　the　queen！〃　A　man　in　the　livery　of　the　queen；　whom
the　cardinal　had　often　seen　at　the　countess's；　and　whom　she　had　told
was　a　confidential　servant　of　the　queen；　entered　and　demanded　the
casket　in　the　name　of　the　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　Queen　of
France；　the　wife　of　the　king；　the　mother　of　the　future　king；not
merely　in　the　purchase　of　the　diamonds　which　she　desired；　but　still
more　in　preventing　the　young　and　impulsive　woman　from　taking　the
unbecoming　step　of　applying　to　any　other　gentleman　of　the　court　for
this　assistance。

At　these　words　the　spectators　broke　into　loud　exclamations；　and　one
of　the　veiled　ladies　cried：　〃Lords　Vaudreuil　and　Coigny　would　not
have　paid　so　much；　but　they　would　have　demanded　more。〃　And　this
expression；　too；　was　greeted　with　loud　acclaims。

The　first　president　of　the　court；　Baron　de　L'Aigre；　here　cast　a
grave　look　toward　the　tribune　where　the　spectators　sat；　but　his
reproach　died　away　upon　lips　which　disclosed　a　faint　inclination　to
smile。

〃I　now　beg　your　eminence；〃　he　said；　〃to　answer　the　following
question：　〃　Did　Queen　Marie　Antoinette　personally　thank　you　for　the
great　service　which；　according　to　your　showing；　you　did　her？　How　is
it　with　the　payments　which　the　queen　pledged　herself　to　make？〃

The　cardinal　was　silent　for　a　short　time；　and　looked　sadly　before
him。　〃Since　the　day　when　I　closed　this　unfortunate　purchase；　I　have
experienced　only　disquietudes；　griefs；　and　humiliations。　This　is　the
only　return　which　I　have　received　for　my　devotion。　The　queen　has
never　bestowed　a　word　upon　me。　At　the　great　festival　she　did　not
even　wear　the　necklace　which　she　had　sent　for　on　the　evening　before。
I　complained　of　this　to　the　countess；　and　the　queen　had　the　goodness
to　write　me　a　note；　saying　that　she　had　found　the　necklace　too
valuable　to　wear　on　that　day；　because　it　would　have　attracted　the
attention　of　the　king　and　the　court。　I　confided　in　the　words　of　the
queen；　and　experienced　no　doubts　about　the　matter　till　the　unhappy
day　when　the　queen　was　to　make　the　first　payment　to　the　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　of　this　sum；　thirty
thousand　francs。　The　queen　requested　me　to　be　satisfied　for　the
present　with　this　arrangement；　and　to　be　sure　of　her　favor。　I
trusted　the　words　of　the　countess　once　more；　took　fresh　courage；　and
sent　word　to　the　queen　that　I　should　always　count　myself　happy　to
conform　to　her　arrangements；　and　be　her　devoted　servant。　The
countess　dismissed　me；　saying　that　she　would　bring　the　money　on　the
morrow。　In　the　mean　time；　something　occurred　that　awakened　all　my
doubts　and　all　my　anxieties　afresh。　I　visited　the　Duchess　de
Polignac；　and　while　I　was　with　her；　there　was　handed　her　a　note　from
the　queen。　I　requested　the　duchess；　in　case　the　billet　contained　no
secret；　to　show　it　to　me；　that　I　might　see　the　handwriting　of　the
queen。　The　duchess　complied　with　my　request；　and〃

The　cardinal　was　silent；　and　deep　inward　excitement　made　his　face
pale。　He　bowed　his　head；　folded　his　hands；　and　his　lips　moved　in
whispered　prayer。

The　judges；　as　well　as　the　spectators；　remained　silent。　No　one　was
able　to　break　the　solemn　stillness　by　an　audible　breath…by　a　single
movement。

At　length；　after　a　long　pause；　when　the　cardinal　had　raised　his　head
again；　the　president　asked　gently：　〃And　so　your　eminence　saw　the
note　of　the　queen；　and　was　it　not　the　same　writing　as　the　letters
which　you　had　received？〃

〃No；　it　was　not　the　same！〃　cried　the　cardinal；　with　pain。　〃No；　it
was　an　entirely　different　hand。　Only　the　signature　had　any
resemblance；　although　the　letter　to　the　duchess　was　simply
subscribed　'Marie　Antoinette。'　I　hastened　home；　and　awaited　the
coming　of　the　countess　with　feverish　impatience。　She　came；　smiling
as　ever；　and　brought　me　the　thirty　thousand　francs。　With　glowing；
passionate　words；　I　threw　my　suspicions　in　her　face。　She　appeared　a
moment　alarmed；　confused；　and　then　granted　that　it　was　possible　that
the　letters　were　not　from　the　hand　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　just　had　an　interview。
Madame　de　Campan　had　told　them　that　the　queen　did　not　possess　the
necklace；　that　no　Countess　Lamotte…Valois　had　ever　had　an　interview
with　the　queen；　that　she　had　told　the　jewellers　with　extreme
indignation　that　some　one　had　been　deceiving　them；　that　they　were
the　victims　of　a　fraud；　and　that　she　would　at　once　go　to　Trianon　to
inform　the　queen　of　this　fearful　intrigue。　This　happened　on　a
Thursday；　on　the　following　Sunday　I　repaired　to　Versailles　to
celebrate　high　mass；　and　the　rest　you　know。　I　have　nothing　further
to　add。〃

〃In　the　name　of　the　court　I　thank　your　eminence　for　your　open　and
clear　exposition　of　this　sad　history；〃　said　the　president；　solemnly。
〃Your　eminence　needs　refreshment；　you　are　free　to　withdraw　and　to
return　to　the　Bastile。〃

The　cardinal　rose　and　bowed　to　the　court。　All　the　judges　stood；　and
respectfully　returned　the　salutation。　＇Footnote：　'Historical。See
〃Memoires　de　l'Abbe　Georgel；〃　vol。　i。＇

One　of　the　veiled　ladies；　sitting　on　the　spectators'　seats；　cried
with　trembling　voice：　〃God　bless　the　cardinal；　the　noble　martyr　of
the　realm！〃

All　the　spectators　repeated　the　cry；　and；　while　the　words　yet　rang；
the　cardinal；　followed　by　the　officers　who　were　to　take　him　to　the
Bastile；　had　left　the　hall。

〃Guards！〃　cried　President　de　L'Aigre；　with　a　loud　voice；　〃bring　in
the　accused；　the　Countess　de　Lamotte…Valois！〃

All　eyes　directed　themselves　to　the　door　which　the　guards　now
opened；　and　through　which　the　accused　was　to　enter。

Upon　the　threshold　of　this　door　appeared　now　a　lady　of　slim；
graceful　form；　in　a　toilet　of　the　greatest　elegance；　her　head
decorated　with　feathers；　flowers；　and　lace；　her　cheeks　highly
painted；　and　her　fine　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　great　blazing　black　eyes　with　proud；
inquisitive　looks　now　to　the　stern　semicircle　of　judges　and　now　to
the　tribune；　whose　occupants　had　not　been　able　to　suppress　a
movement　of　indignation　and　a　subdued　hiss。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　she；　with　a　clear；　distinct　voice；　in　which　not
the　faintest　quiver；　not　the　least　excitement　was　apparent〃
gentlemen；　are　we　here　in　a　theatre；　where　the　players　who　tread　the
boards　are　received　with　audible　signs　of　approval　or　of　disfavor？〃

The　president；　to　whom　her　dark　eyes　were　directed；　deigned　to　give
no　answer；　but　turned　with　an　expressive　gesture　to　the　officer　who
stood　behind　the　accused。

He　understood　this　sign；　and　brought　from　the　corner　of　the　hall　a
wooden　seat　of　rough；　clumsy　form；　to　whose　high　back　of　unpolished
dirty　wood　two　short　iron　chains　were　attached。

This　seat　he　placed　near　the　handsome；　gaudily…dressed　countess　with
her　air　of　assurance　and　self…confidence；　and　pointed　to　it　with　a
commanding　gesture。

〃Be　seated；〃　he　said；　with　a　loud；　lordly　tore。　She　shrugged　her
shoulders；　and　looked　at　the　offered　seat　with　an　expression　of
indignation。　〃How！〃　she　cried；　〃who　dares　offer　me　the　chair　of
criminals　to　sit　in？〃

〃Be　seated；〃　replied　the　officer。　〃The　seat　of　the　accused　is　ready
for　you；　and　the　chains　upon　it　are　for　those　who　are　not　inclined
to　take　it。〃

A　cry　of　anger　escaped　from　her　lips；　and　her　eyes　flashed　an
annihilating　glance　upon　the　venturesome　officer；　but　he　did　not
appear　to　be　in　the　least　affected　by　the　lightning　from　her　eyes；
but　met　it　with　perfect　tranquillity。

〃If　you　do　not　take　it　of　yourself；　madame；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　be
compelled　to　summon　the　police；　we　shall　then　compel　you　to　take　the
seat；　and　in　order　to　prevent　your　rising；　the　chains　will　be　bound
around　your　arms。〃

The　countess　answered　only　with　an　exclamation　of　anger；　and　fixed
her　inquiring　looks　upon　the　judges；　the　accusers；　the　defenders；
and　then　again　upon　the　spectators。　Everywhere　she　encountered　only
a　threatening　mien　and　suspicious　looks；　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　upo