Onthistheattorney-general，Borillon，rose，andamidthebreathlesssilenceoftheassemblybegantospeak。Hepaintedthecountessasacrafty，skilfuladventuress，whohadcometoPariswiththedeterminedpurposeofmakingherfortuneinwhateverwayitcouldbedone。Hethenspokeofthedestitutioninwhichshehadlivedatfirst，ofthebeggingletterswhichsheaddressedtoallpeopleofdistinction，andespeciallytoCardinaldeRohan，inconsequenceofhiswell-knownliberality。Hepaintedinlivelyandtouchingcolorsthescenewherethecardinal，struckbythenameofthesuppliant，wentinpersontotheattictoconvincehimselfwhetheritwerereallytruethatadescendantoftheKingsofFrancehadbeendriventosuchpovertyandhumiliation，andtogiveherassistanceforthesakeoftheroyalhouse，towhichhewasdevotedheartandsoul。Hepaintedfurtherhowthecardinal，attractedbythelivelyspirits，amiability，andintellectualcharacterofLamotte-Valois，hadgivenherhisconfidence，andbelievedwhatshetoldhimaboutherfavorwiththequeen，andherintimaterelationswithher。“Thecardinal，“continuedtheattorney-general，“didnotdoubtforamomentthetrustworthinessofthecountess；hehadnottheleastsuspicionthathewasappointedtobecomethevictimofanintriguer，whowouldtakeadvantageofhisnoblespirit，hismagnanimity，todeceivehimandtoenrichherself。Thecountessknewtheboundlessdevotionofthecardinaltothequeen；shehadheardhiscomplaintsoftheproudcoldness，thepublicslightswhichsheofferedtohim。Ontheotherhand，shehadheardofthecostlydiamondnecklacewhichBohmerandBassengehadrepeatedlyofferedtothequeen，andthatshehadrefusedtotakeitonaccountoftheenormouspricewhichtheydemandedforit。Onthisthecountessformedherplananditsucceededperfectly。Shecausedthecardinaltohopethathewouldsoonhaveanaudienceofthequeen，ifhewouldgivesolidassurancesofhisdevotion，andwhenheprofessedhimselfready，sheproposedtohim，asactingunderthequeen’sinstructions，thepurchaseofthenecklace。Thecardinaldeclaredhimselfreadytoaccede，andtheaffairtookthecoursealreadyindicatedwithsuchtouchingfranknessandloftytruthfulnessbyhiseminence。Hebroughtthepurchasetoaconclusion；hepaidthefirstinstalmentofsixhundredthousandfrancs，andgavethenecklacetothefriendofthequeen，theCountessLamotte-Valois，afterhehadavailedhimselfofherassistanceinreceivingfromthelipsandhandofthequeeninthegardenofVersaillestheassuranceoftheroyalfavor。Thecountessatoncebroughtthecardinalapaperfromthequeen，statingthatshehadreceivedthenecklace，andconveyingtohimthewarmthanksofhisqueen。Thecardinalfelthimselfrichlyrewardedbythisforallhispainsandoutlays，andinthejoyofhisheartwantedtorepayherwho，insoprudentandwiseamanner，hadeffectedhisreconciliationwiththequeen。Hesettleduponherayearlypensionoffourthousandfrancs，payableherwholelife，andthecountessaccepteditwithtearsofemotion，andsworeeternalgratitudetothecardinal。Butwhileutteringthisveryoathshewasconspiringagainstherbenefactor，andlaughinginhersleeveatthecredulousprincewhohadfallenintotheverynetwhichshehadpreparedforhim。Hermostactiveallywasherhusband，whomshehadlongbeforesummonedtoParis，andwhowastheabetterofherintrigue。Thecountesshadnowbecomearichlady，andwasabletoindulgeallhercravingsforsplendorandluxury。
Shewho，downtothattime，hadstoodasasupplicantbeforethedoorsoftherich，couldherselfhaveaprincelydwelling，andcoulddevotegreatsumstoitsadornment。Themostcelebratedmakerswerecalledon，tofurnishthefurnitureandthedecorations，and，asifbyatouchofmagic，shewassurroundedbyfabulousluxury；thefairestequipagesstoodreadyforher，thefinesthorsesinherstable，andatroopoflackeyswaiteduponthebeckofthefairladywhodisplayedherprincelysplendorbeforethem。Achoicesilverserviceglittereduponhertable，andshepossessedvaluablesworthmorethanahundredthousandfrancs。Morethanthis，sheenjoyedthebestofall，atenderanddevotedhusband，whooverloadedherwithpresents；fromLondon，whitherhewascalledbypressingfamilyaffairs，hesenthiswifeamedallionofdiamonds，whichwassubsequentlyestimatedattwohundredandthirtylouis-d’ors，andapearlbraceletworthtwohundredlouis-d’ors。Returningfromhisjourney，hesurprisedhiswifewithanewandsplendidpresent。HehadpurchasedapalaceinBar-sur-Aube，andthitherthewholecostlyfurnitureofhishiredhousewascarried。Wouldyouknowwherealltheseraregiftsworedrawn？TheCountessLamottehadbrokenthenecklace，andtakenthestonesfromtheirsetting。Forthegoldalonewhichwasusedinthesettingshereceivedfortythousandfrancs；foroneofthediamonds，whichshesoldinParis，shereceivedfiftythousandfrancs；foranother，thirty-sixthousand。
ThediamondsofuncommonsizeandimmenseworthshedidnotdaretodisposeofinParis，andherhusbandwascompelledtojourneytoLondontosellaportionofthemthere。OnhisreturnthencehewasabletobuyforhiswifethehouseinBar-sur-Aube，forthesumreceivedinLondonwasfourhundredthousandfrancsingold，inadditiontothepearlsandthediamondmedallionwhichhebroughthiswifefromLondon。Andofallthisluxury，thisextravagance，CardinaldeRohanhadnaturallynosuspicion。Whenhevisitedher，wheredidthecountessreceivehim？Inapoorly-furnishedattic-
chamberofthehousehiredbyher。Insimple，modestattire，Shemethimthereandtoldhimwithtremblingvoicethattherichcountesswholivedinthetwolowerstoriesofthehousehadallowedhertohavethissuitenexttotheroofgratis。Butwhendangerapproached，andLamottebegantofearthatBohmerandBassenge，inclaimingtheirpayfromthequeen，wouldbringthehistoryofthenecklacetothelight，thecountesscametothecardinaltopayherpartingrespects，asshewasgoingintothecountrytoafriendtoliveinthegreatestprivacy。SheleftParismerelytorepairtoBar-sur-
Aubeandliveinhermagnificentpalace。ShetarriedtheresolongastoallowthepolicedetectivestodiscoverintherichandelegantladytheintriguerLamotte-Valois，andtoeffecttheimprisonmentofherhusbandandhisfriend，theso-calledCountCagliostro。Herotherabettershadputthemselvesoutofsight，andwerenottobediscovered。However，theirarrestwasnotspeciallynecessary，forthefactswerealreadysufficientlystrongandclear。
SomeofthediamondswhichLamottehadsoldinLondonwerebroughtbacktoParis，andhadbeenrecognizedbyBohmerandBassengeasbelongingtothenecklacewhichtheyhadsoldtothequeen。Thegoldsmithhadbeendiscoveredtowhomthecountesshadsoldthegoldensettingofthenecklace，andBohmerandBassengehadrecognizedinthefragmentswhichremainedtheirownwork。ItisunquestionablethattheCountessLamotte-Valois，throughherintriguesandcunning，hadbeenabletogainpossessionofthenecklace，andthatshehadappropriatedittoherownuse。Thecountessisthereforeguiltyoftheftanddeception。Sheis，moreover，guiltyofforgery，forshehasimitatedthehandwritingofthequeen，andsubscribeditwiththeroyalname。Butthehandisneitherthatofthequeen，nordoesthequeeneversubscribeherself’MarieAntoinetteofFrance。’ThismakesLamotteopentothechargeofbothforgeryandcontemptofmajesty，forshehasevendaredtodragthesacredpersonoftheQueenofFranceintohermeshoflies，andtomakehermajestytheheroineofadishonorablelove-
adventure。“
“Mylord，“criedCountessLamotte，withaloudlaugh，“youarenotdriventothenecessityofinvolvingthequeenindishonorablelove-
adventures。Thequeenisinrealitytheheroineofsomanyadventuresofthischaracter，thatyoucanhaveyourchoiceofthem。
Aqueenwhovisitstheopera-houseballsincognito，drivesthithermaskedandinafiacre，andwhoappearsincognitoontheterracesofVersailleswithstrangesoldiers，exchangingjocosewordswiththem——
aqueenofthetypeofthisAustrianmaynotwondertofindhernameidentifiedwiththeheroineofalove-adventure。Butwearespeakingnownotofaromance，butofareality，andIamnottobeaccusedofforgeryandcontemptofmajestywithouthavingtheproofsbroughtforward。Thiscannot，however，bedone，forIhavetheproofsofmyinnocence。Thecardinalhadaninterviewwiththequeen，andshegavehimareceiptforthediamonds。Ifshewrotehersignaturedifferentlyfromherusualmanner，itisnotmyfault。Itonlyshowsthatthequeenwascunningenoughtosecureanalibi，sotospeak，forhersignature，andtoleaveareardooropenforherself，throughwhichshecouldslipwithherexaltedname，incasetheaffairwasdiscovered，andleavemetobeherbetedesouffrance。ButIambynomeansdisposedtoacceptthispart，forI
declareheresolemnly，beforeGodandman，thatIaminnocentofthecrimelaidtomycharge。Iwasonlyatootrueanddevotedfriend，thatisall!Isacrificedmyownsafetyandpeacetothewelfareofmyexaltedfriends，andInowcomplainofthemthattheyhavetreatedmeunthankfullyinthismatter。Buttheymustbeartheblame，theyalone。LetthequeenshowthatshedidnotgivethecardinalarendezvousintheparkofVersailles；letherfurthershowthatshedidnotsignthepromissorynote，andtheletterstohiseminence，andthenIshallbeexposedtothechargeofbeingadeceiverandatraitor。Butsolongasthisisnotdone——anditcannotbedone，forGodisjust，andwillnotpermittheinnocenttosufferfortheguilty——solongwillallFrance，yes，allEurope，beconvincedthatthequeenistheguiltyone；thatshereceivedthejewels，andpaidthecardinalforthemasacoquetteandlight-
mindedwomandoes，withtenderwords，withsmilesandlovinglooks，and，lastofall，witharendezvous!“
“Youareright，“saidtheattorney-general，asthecountessceased，andlookedaroundherwithavictorioussmile——“youarequiteright，GodISjust，andHewillnotpermittheinnocenttosufferfortheguilty。Hewillnotletyourinfernalintriguestandastruth；Hewilltearawaythemaskofinnocencefromyourdeceiver’sface，andlotyoustandforthinallyourimpudenceanddeception。“
“Mylord，“criedthecountess，smiling，“thoseareveryhigh-
soundingwords，buttheyarenoproofs。“
“Wewillnowgivetheproofs，“answeredtheattorney-general，turningtooneoftheguards。“Lettheladyenterwhoiswaitingintheroomoutside。“
Theofficergaveasigntooneofthemenwhostoodnearthedoorleadingtothewitness-room；heenteredtheadjoiningapartment，butsoonafterreturnedaloneandwhisperedsomethingintheofficer’sear。
“Theladyasksthecourt’sindulgenceforafewmoments，“saidtheofficer，aloud。“Asshemustbeseparatedsomehoursfromherchild，sheaskspermissiontosuckleitafewmoments。“
Thepresidentcastaninquiringlookatthejudges，whoallnoddedaffirmatively。
ThelawwassilentbeforethevoiceofNature；allwaitednoiselesslytillthewitnesshadquietedherchild。
Andnowthedoorofthewitness-roomopened，anduponthethresholdwasseenawoman’sfigure，atwhoseunexpectedappearanceacryofamazementrosefromthelipsofallthespectatorsonthetribune，andalleyeswereaflamewithcuriosity。
Itwasthequeen——noonebutthequeenwhowasenteringthehall!Itwasherslim，finefigure，itwasherfresh，voting，rosycountenance，withthefair，charmingovalofherdelicately-tintedcheeks；itwasherfinely-cutmouth，withthefull，lowerlips；