Butbeforecompletingthesale，thecrownjewellersmadeonemoreapplicationtothequeen，declaringthatifshewouldconsenttotakethenecklace，theywouldbecontentwithanyconditionsofpayment。Inthemeantime，theprivatetreasuryofthequeenwasempty。Theseverewinterhadinducedmuchsufferingandmisfortune，andthequeenhadgivenallherfundstothepoor。Butassheearnestlydesiredtopurchasethenecklace，shewouldgivehergrandalmoneraspecialmarkofherfavoringrantingtohimthecommissionofpurchasingitinhername。Heshouldreceiveapaperfromthequeen’sownhandauthorizingthepurchase，yetheshouldkeepthistohimself，andshowitonlytothecourtjewellersatthetimeofthepurchase。Thefirstpaymentofsixhundredthousandfrancsthecardinalwastopayfromhisownpurse，theremainingmillionthequeenwouldpayininstalmentsofonehundredthousandfrancseach，attheexpirationofeverythreemonths。Inthenextthreemonths，thesixhundredthousandfrancsadvancedbythecardinalshouldberefunded。
Thecardinalfelthimselfhighlyflatteredbythistokenofthequeen’sconfidence，anddesirednothingmorethanthewrittenauthorizationofthequeen，empoweringhimtomakethepurchaseatonce。Thisdocumentwasnotwaitedforlong。TwodaysonlypassedbeforetheCountessLamotte-Valoisbroughtit，datedatTrianon，andsubscribedMarieAntoinetteofFrance。Meanwhilesomedoubtsaroseinthemindofthecardinal。Heturnedtohisfriendandadviser，CountCagliostro，forcounsel。Thelatterhadcuredhimyearsbeforewhileverysick，andsincethattimehadalwaysbeenhisdisinterestedfriend，andtheprophet，sotospeak，whoalwaysindicatedthecardinal’sfuturetohim。Thisman，soclearinhisforesight，soskilfulinmedicine，wasnowtakenintoconfidence，andhisadviceasked。CountCagliostrosummonedthespiritsthatwaiteduponhim，beforethecardinal，onesolitarynight。Heaskedtheseinvisiblepresenceswhattheircounselwas，andtheoracleanswered，thattheaffairwasoneworthyofthestationofthecardinal；thatitwouldhaveafortunateissue；thatitputthesealuponthefavorsofthequeen，andwouldusherinthefortunatedaywhichwouldbringthegreattalentsofthecardinalintoemploymentforthebenefitofFranceandtheworld。Thecardinaldoubtedandhesitatednolonger。HewentatoncetothecourtjewellersBohmerandBassenge：hedidnotconcealfromthemthathewasgoingtobuythenecklaceinthenameofthequeen，andshowedthemthewrittenauthorization。Thejewellersenteredreadilyintothetransaction。
Thecardinalmadeadepositofsixhundredthousandfrancs，andBohmerandBassengegavehimthenecklace。Itwasthedaybeforeagreatfestival，andatthefestivalthequeenwantedtowearthenecklace。IntheeveningatrustedservantofthequeenwastotakethenecklacefromthedwellingoftheCountessLamotte-Valois。Thecountessherselfrequestedthecardinaltobepresent，thoughunseen，whenthedeliveryshouldtakeplace。
Inaccordancewiththisagreement，thecardinalrepairedtothepalaceofthecountessontheeveningofFebruary1st，1784，accompaniedbyatrustedvalet，whocarriedthecasketwiththenecklace。Atthedoorwayhehimselftookthecollarandgaveittothecountess。Sheconductedthecardinaltoanalcoveadjoininghersitting-room。Throughthedoorprovidedwithglasswindowshecoulddimlyseethesitting-room。
Aftersomeminutesthemainentranceopened，andavoicecried：“Intheserviceofthequeen!“Amanintheliveryofthequeen，whomthecardinalhadoftenseenatthecountess’s，andwhomshehadtoldwasaconfidentialservantofthequeen，enteredanddemandedthecasketinthenameofthequeen。TheCountessValoistookitandgaveittotheservant，whobowedandtookhisleave。Atthemomentwhenthemandeparted，bearingthiscostlysetofjewels，thecardinalexperiencedaninexpressiblesenseofsatisfactionathavinghadthehappinessofconferringaserviceupontheQueenofFrance，thewifeoftheking，themotherofthefutureking，——notmerelyinthepurchaseofthediamondswhichshedesired，butstillmoreinpreventingtheyoungandimpulsivewomanfromtakingtheunbecomingstepofapplyingtoanyothergentlemanofthecourtforthisassistance。
Atthesewordsthespectatorsbrokeintoloudexclamations，andoneoftheveiledladiescried：“LordsVaudreuilandCoignywouldnothavepaidsomuch，buttheywouldhavedemandedmore。“Andthisexpression，too，wasgreetedwithloudacclaims。
Thefirstpresidentofthecourt，BarondeL’Aigre，herecastagravelooktowardthetribunewherethespectatorssat，buthisreproachdiedawayuponlipswhichdisclosedafaintinclinationtosmile。
“Inowbegyoureminence，“hesaid，“toanswerthefollowingquestion：“DidQueenMarieAntoinettepersonallythankyouforthegreatservicewhich，accordingtoyourshowing，youdidher？Howisitwiththepaymentswhichthequeenpledgedherselftomake？“
Thecardinalwassilentforashorttime，andlookedsadlybeforehim。“SincethedaywhenIclosedthisunfortunatepurchase，Ihaveexperiencedonlydisquietudes，griefs，andhumiliations。ThisistheonlyreturnwhichIhavereceivedformydevotion。Thequeenhasneverbestowedaworduponme。Atthegreatfestivalshedidnotevenwearthenecklacewhichshehadsentforontheeveningbefore。
Icomplainedofthistothecountess，andthequeenhadthegoodnesstowritemeanote，sayingthatshehadfoundthenecklacetoovaluabletowearonthatday，becauseitwouldhaveattractedtheattentionofthekingandthecourt。Iconfidedinthewordsofthequeen，andexperiencednodoubtsaboutthemattertilltheunhappydaywhenthequeenwastomakethefirstpaymenttothejewellers，andwhenshesentneithertomenortothejewellersaword。Uponthisafearfulsuspicionbegantotroubleme，——thatmydevotiontothequeenmighthavebeentakenadvantageof，inordertodeceiveandmisleadme。Whenthisdreadfulthoughtseizedme，Ishuddered，andhadnotpowertolookdownintotheabysswhichsuddenlyyawnedbeneathme。IatoncesummonedtheCountessLamotte，anddesiredhersolutionofthisinexplicableconductofthequeen。Shetoldmethatshehadbeenonthepointofcomingtomeandinformingme，attherequestofthequeen，thatothernecessaryoutlayshadpreventedthequeen’spayingmethesixhundredthousandfrancsthatIhaddisbursedtoBohmeratthepurchaseofthenecklace，andthatshemustbecontentwithpayingtheinterestofthissum，thirtythousandfrancs。Thequeenrequestedmetobesatisfiedforthepresentwiththisarrangement，andtobesureofherfavor。I
trustedthewordsofthecountessoncemore，tookfreshcourage，andsentwordtothequeenthatIshouldalwayscountmyselfhappytoconformtoherarrangements，andbeherdevotedservant。Thecountessdismissedme，sayingthatshewouldbringthemoneyonthemorrow。Inthemeantime，somethingoccurredthatawakenedallmydoubtsandallmyanxietiesafresh。IvisitedtheDuchessdePolignac，andwhileIwaswithher，therewashandedheranotefromthequeen。Irequestedtheduchess，incasethebilletcontainednosecret，toshowittome，thatImightseethehandwritingofthequeen。Theduchesscompliedwithmyrequest，and——“
Thecardinalwassilent，anddeepinwardexcitementmadehisfacepale。Hebowedhishead，foldedhishands，andhislipsmovedinwhisperedprayer。
Thejudges，aswellasthespectators，remainedsilent。Noonewasabletobreakthesolemnstillnessbyanaudiblebreath-byasinglemovement。
Atlength，afteralongpause，whenthecardinalhadraisedhisheadagain，thepresidentaskedgently：“Andsoyoureminencesawthenoteofthequeen，andwasitnotthesamewritingastheletterswhichyouhadreceived？“
“No，itwasnotthesame!“criedthecardinal，withpain。“No，itwasanentirelydifferenthand。Onlythesignaturehadanyresemblance，althoughthelettertotheduchesswassimplysubscribed’MarieAntoinette。’Ihastenedhome，andawaitedthecomingofthecountesswithfeverishimpatience。Shecame，smilingasever，andbroughtmethethirtythousandfrancs。Withglowing，passionatewords，Ithrewmysuspicionsinherface。Sheappearedamomentalarmed，confused，andthengrantedthatitwaspossiblethattheletterswerenotfromthehandofthequeen，butthatshehaddictatedthem。Butthesignatureswerethequeen’s，shecouldtakeheroathofit。Iagaintookalittlecourage；butsoonafterthecountesshadleftme，thejewellerscameinthehighestexcitementtome，totellmethat，receivingnopaymentsfromthequeen，theyhadappliedinwritingtoherseveraltimes，withoutreceivinganyanswer；theireffortstoobtainanaudiencewerealsoallinvain，andsotheyhadatlastappliedtothefirstlady-in-waitingonthequeen，MadamedeCampan，withwhomtheyhadjusthadaninterview。
MadamedeCampanhadtoldthemthatthequeendidnotpossessthenecklace；thatnoCountessLamotte-Valoishadeverhadaninterviewwiththequeen；thatshehadtoldthejewellerswithextremeindignationthatsomeonehadbeendeceivingthem；thattheywerethevictimsofafraud，andthatshewouldatoncegotoTrianontoinformthequeenofthisfearfulintrigue。ThishappenedonaThursday；onthefollowingSundayIrepairedtoVersaillestocelebratehighmass，andtherestyouknow。Ihavenothingfurthertoadd。“
“InthenameofthecourtIthankyoureminenceforyouropenandclearexpositionofthissadhistory，“saidthepresident，solemnly。
“Youreminenceneedsrefreshment，youarefreetowithdrawandtoreturntotheBastile。“
Thecardinalroseandbowedtothecourt。Allthejudgesstood，andrespectfullyreturnedthesalutation。[Footnote：’Historical——See“Memoiresdel’AbbeGeorgel，“vol。i。]
Oneoftheveiledladies，sittingonthespectators’seats，criedwithtremblingvoice：“Godblessthecardinal，thenoblemartyroftherealm!“
Allthespectatorsrepeatedthecry；and，whilethewordsyetrang，thecardinal，followedbytheofficerswhoweretotakehimtotheBastile，hadleftthehall。
“Guards!“criedPresidentdeL’Aigre，withaloudvoice，“bringintheaccused，theCountessdeLamotte-Valois!“
Alleyesdirectedthemselvestothedoorwhichtheguardsnowopened，andthroughwhichtheaccusedwastoenter。
Uponthethresholdofthisdoorappearednowaladyofslim，gracefulform，inatoiletofthegreatestelegance，herheaddecoratedwithfeathers，flowers，andlace，hercheekshighlypainted，andherfinerubylipsencircledbyapert，andatthesametimeamockingsmile，whichdisplayedtworowsofthefinestteeth。
Withthissmileuponherlipsshemovedforwardwithalightandspiritedstep，turninghergreatblazingblackeyeswithproud，inquisitivelooksnowtothesternsemicircleofjudgesandnowtothetribune，whoseoccupantshadnotbeenabletosuppressamovementofindignationandasubduedhiss。
“Gentlemen，“saidshe，withaclear，distinctvoice，inwhichnotthefaintestquiver，nottheleastexcitementwasapparent——“
gentlemen，arewehereinatheatre，wheretheplayerswhotreadtheboardsarereceivedwithaudiblesignsofapprovalorofdisfavor？“
Thepresident，towhomherdarkeyesweredirected，deignedtogivenoanswer，butturnedwithanexpressivegesturetotheofficerwhostoodbehindtheaccused。
Heunderstoodthissign，andbroughtfromthecornerofthehallawoodenseatofrough，clumsyform，towhosehighbackofunpolisheddirtywoodtwoshortironchainswereattached。