Thisseatheplacednearthehandsome，gaudily-dressedcountesswithherairofassuranceandself-confidence，andpointedtoitwithacommandinggesture。
“Beseated，“hesaid，withaloud，lordlytore。Sheshruggedhershoulders，andlookedattheofferedseatwithanexpressionofindignation。“How!“shecried，“whodaresoffermethechairofcriminalstositin？“
“Beseated，“repliedtheofficer。“Theseatoftheaccusedisreadyforyou，andthechainsuponitareforthosewhoarenotinclinedtotakeit。“
Acryofangerescapedfromherlips，andhereyesflashedanannihilatingglanceupontheventuresomeofficer，buthedidnotappeartobeintheleastaffectedbythelightningfromhereyes，butmetitwithperfecttranquillity。
“Ifyoudonottakeitofyourself，madame，“hesaid，“Ishallbecompelledtosummonthepolice；weshallthencompelyoutotaketheseat，andinordertopreventyourrising，thechainswillbeboundaroundyourarms。“
Thecountessansweredonlywithanexclamationofanger，andfixedherinquiringlooksuponthejudges，theaccusers，thedefenders，andthenagainuponthespectators。Everywheresheencounteredonlyathreateningmienandsuspiciouslooks，nowhereanexpressionofsympathy。Butitwasjustthiswhichseemedtogivehercourageandtosteelherstrength。Sheraisedherheadproudly，forcedthesmileagainuponherlips，andtookherseatuponthechairwithagraceanddignityasifshewereinabrilliantsaloon，andwastakingherseatuponanelegantsofa。Thepresidentofthecourtnowturnedhisgrave，rigidfacetothecountess，andasked：“Whoareyou，madame？
Whatisyourname，andhowoldareyou？“
Thecountessgavewaytoaloud，melodiouslaugh。“Mylordpresident，“answeredshe，“itisveryclearthatyouarenotmuchaccustomedtodealwithladies，orelseyouwouldnottakethelibertyofaskingalady，likemyselfinherprime，afterherage。I
willpardonyouthisbreachofetiquette，andIwillmagnanimouslypretendnottohaveheardthatquestion，inordertoanswertheothers。Youwishtoknowmyname？IamtheCountessLamotte-ValoisofFrance，thelatestdescendantoftheformerKingsofPrance；andifinthisunhappyland，whichistroddentothedustbyastupidkingandadissolutequeen，rightandjusticestillprevailed，I
shouldsitonthethroneofFrance，andthecoquettewhonowoccupiesitwouldbesittinghereinthiscriminal’schair，tojustifyherselfforthetheftwhichshehascommitted，foritisMarieAntoinettewhopossessesthediamondsofthejewellerBohmer，notI。“
Atthespectators’tribuneagentlebravowasheardatthesewords，andthisdaringcalumnyuponthequeenfoundnoreprovalevenfromthejudges’bench。
“Madame，“saidL’Aigre，afterashortpause，“insteadofsimplyansweringmyquestionsyoureplywithahigh-soundingspeech，whichcontainsanuntruth，foritisnottruethatyoucanlayanyclaimtothethroneofFrance。Thedescendantsofbastardshaveclaimsneithertothenamenortherankoftheirfathers。Since，inrespecttoyournameandrank，youhaveansweredwithanuntruth，Iwilltellyouwhoandwhatyouare。YourfatherwasapoorpeasantinthevillageofAuteuil。HecalledhimselfValois，andtheclergymanofthevillageonedaytoldthewifeoftheproprietorofAuteuil，MadamedeBoulainvillier，thatthepeasantofValoiswasinpossessionoffamilypapers，accordingtowhichitwasunquestionablethathewasanillegitimatedescendantoftheoldroyalfamily。
Thegoodpriestatthesametimerecommendedthepoor，hungrychildrenoftheday-laborerValoistothekindnessofMadamedeBoulainvillier，andtheoldladyhastenedtocomplywiththisrecommendation。ShehadthedaughterofValoiscalledtohertoaskherhowshecouldassistherinhermisery。“
“SayrathertogainforherselfthecreditthatshehadshownkindnessestothedescendantsoftheKingsofFrance，“interruptedthecountess，quickly。
“Thiswouldhavebeenasorrycredit，“repliedPresidentL’Aigre。
“TheValoisfamilyhadforalongtimebeenextinct，andthelastmanofthatnamewhoisknown，wasdetectedincounterfeiting，sentenced，andexecuted。YourgrandfatherwasanillegitimatesonofthecounterfeiterValois。ThatisthesumtotalofyourrelationtotheroyalfamilyofFrance。Itispossiblethatuponthisverychaironwhichyounowsit，accusedofthisactofdeception，yournaturalgreat-grandfatheroncesat，accusedlikeyouofanactofdeception，inorder，afterconvictionofhiscrime，tobepunishedaccordingtothelawsofFrance。“
Thecountessmadeamotionasifshewantedtorisefromtheunfortunateseat，butinstantlytheheavyhandoftheofficerwaslaiduponhershoulder，andhisthreateningvoicesaid，“Sitstill，orIputonthechains!“
TheCountessLamotte-ValoisofFrancesankbackwithaloudsobuponthechair，andforthefirsttimeadeath-likepalenessdiffuseditselfoverherhithertorosycheeks。
“SoMadamedeBoulainvillierhadthechildrenoftheday-laborerValoiscalled，“continuedthepresident，withhisimperturbableself-possession。“Theoldestdaughter，agirloftwelveyears，pleasedherinconsequenceofherlivelynatureandherattractiveexterior。Shetookhertoherself，shegaveheranexcellenteducation，shewasresolvedtoprovideforherwholefuture；whenonedaytheyoungValoisdisappearedfromthechateauofMadamedeBoulainvillier。Shehadelopedwiththesub-lieutenant，CountLamotte，andannouncedtoherbenefactress，inaletterwhichsheleftbehind，thatshewasescapingfromtheslaveryinwhichshehadhithertolived，andthatshelefthercursetothosewhowantedtohinderhermarryingthemanofherchoice。Butinordertoaccomplishhermarriage，sheconfessedthatshehadfounditnecessarytorobthecasketofMadamedeBoulainvillier，andthatoutofthismoneysheshoulddefrayherexpenses。Itwasasumoftwentythousandfrancswhichthefugitivehadrobbedfromherbenefactress。“
“Itakethelibertyofremarkingtoyou，Mr。President，thatyouaretheremakinguseofatotallyfalseexpression，“interruptedthecountess。“ItcannotbesaidthatIrobbedthissum。ItwasthedowrywhichMadamedeBoulainvillierhadpromisedtogivemeincaseofmymarriage，andIonlytookwhatwasmyown，asIwasuponthepointofmarrying。MadamedeBoulainvillierherselfjustifiedmeintakingthissum，forsheneveraskedmetoreturnitorfiledanaccusationagainstme。“
“Becauseshewantedtopreventthematterbecomingtown-talk，“
remarkedthepresident，quietly。“MadamedeBoulainvillierheldherpeace，andrelinquishedpunishmenttotherighteousJudgewholivesabovethestars。“
“Andwhosurelyhasnotdescendedfromthestarstoassumethepresident’schairofthiscourt，“criedLamotte，withamockinglaugh。
PresidentL’Aigre，withoutheedingtheinterruption，continued：
“ThedaughterofthelaborerValoismarriedthesub-lieutenantLamotte，wholivedinalittlegarrisoncityoftheprovince，andsoughttoincreasehismeagresalarybymanyingeniousdevices。Henotmerelygaveinstructioninfencingandriding，buthewasalsoaveryskilfulcard-player——soskilful，thatfortunealmostalwaysaccompaniedhim。“
“Mylord，“criedthecountess，springingup，“youseemtowanttohintthatCountLamotteplayedafalsegame。Yousurelywouldnotventuretosaythisifthecountwerefree，forhewouldchallengeyouforthisinsult，anditiswellknownthathisstrokeisfataltothosewhostandinthewayofhisdagger。“
“Ihintatnothing，andImerelycallthingsbytheirrightnames，“
repliedthepresident，smiling。“Inconsequenceofstrongsuspicionsoffalseplay，CountLamottewasdrivenoutofhisregiment；andastheyoungpairhadinthemeantimeconsumedthestolenwedding-
money，theymustdiscoversomenewwayofmakingaliving。TheyounghusbandrepairedtothesouthofFrancetocontinuehiscard-
playing；theyoungwife，havingforherfortuneheryouthandthesplendorofhername，repairedtoParis，bothresolveddecorrigerlafortunewhereverandhowevertheycould。“This，madame，“
continuedthepresident，afterapause，“thisisthetrueanswertomyquestion，howyouarecalled，andwhoyouare。“
“Theansweris，however，notyetquitesatisfactory，“repliedLamotte，inanimpudenttone。“YouhaveforgottentoaddthatIamthefriendofthecardinal，PrinceLouisdeRohan，theconfidanteandfriendofQueenMarieAntoinette，andthatbothnowwanttodomethehonortomakemetheirbetedesouffrance，andtoletmesufferforwhattheyhavedoneandareguiltyof。Mywholecrimeliesinthis，thatIhelpedtheQueenofFrancegainthejewelsforwhichheridleandtrivialsoullonged；thatIhelpedtheamorousandlight-mindedcardinalapproachtheobjectofhislove，andprocuredforhimaninterviewwiththequeen。Thatisallthatcanbechargeduponme；IprocuredforthequeenthefinenecklaceofMessrs。BohmerandBassenge；Igavethecardinal，asthepriceofapartofthenecklace，atendertete-a-tetewiththequeen。ThecardinalwillnotdenythatinthegardenofVersailleshehadarendezvouswiththequeen，thathekissedherhandandreceivedarosefromher；andthequeenwillbecompelledtoconfessintheendthatthenecklaceisinherpossession。Whatblamecanbelaidonmeforthis？“
“Theblameofdeception，ofdefalcation，offorgery，ofcalumny，oftheft，“repliedthepresident，withsolemnearnestness。“YoudeceivedCardinaldeRohaninsayingthatyouknewthequeen，thatyouwereintimatewithher，thatshehonoredyouwithherconfidence。Youforged，orgotsomeonetoforge，thehandwritingofthequeen，andpreparedletterswhichyougavetothecardinal，pretendingthattheycamefromthequeen。Youmisusedthedevotionofthecardinaltotheroyalfamily，andcausedhiseminencetobelievethatthequeendesiredhisservicesinthepurchaseofthenecklace；andafterthecardinal，fullofpleasure，hadbeenabletodoaservicetothequeen，hadtreatedwithBohmerandBassenge，hadpaidapartofthepurchasemoney，andgaveyouthenecklaceinchargetobeputintothequeen’shands，youwereguiltyoftheft，forthequeenknowsnothingofthenecklace；thequeennevergaveyouthehonorofanaudience，thequeenneverspokewithyou，andnooneofthequeen’scompanionseversawtheCountessLamotte。“
“Thatmeanstheydisownme；theyalldisownme!“criedthecountess，withflamingrage，stampinguponthefloorwithherlittlesatin-
coveredfoot。“Butthetruthwillonedaycometothelight。ThecardinalwillnotdenythatthequeengavehimarendezvousatVersailles；thatshethankedhimpersonallyforthenecklacewhichshehadprocuredthroughhisinstrumentality。“
“Yes，thetruthwillcometothelight，“answeredthepresident。“I
summonthecrownattorney，M。deBorillon，topresentthechargeagainsttheCountessLamotte-Valois。“