wasverymuchpleasedwiththispart，andmademyplantospeaktohiminverytenderandlovingtones。“
“Butwereyounotcurioustoknowforwhomyouwereplayingthispart，andwhatladyyouhadtorepresent？“
“Ishouldcertainlyhavelikedverymuchtoknow，butthecountessforbademetoask，andtoldmethatImustsuppressmycuriosity；
and，ontheotherhand，makeanefforttonoticenothingatall，elseIshouldreceiveonlyhalfofthemoney；and，besides，iftheynoticedthatIknewwhatIwasdoing，ImightbesenttotheBastile。Iwasstilluponthat，anddidnottroublemyselfaboutanythingfurther，andaskednothingmore，andonlythoughtoflearningmylessonwell，thatImightgetthefifteenthousandfrancsformymarriageportion。“
“Sotheygaveyoualessontolearn？“
“Yes，thecountess，andthegentlemanwhobroughthertome，cametwicetome，andtaughtmehowIoughttowalk，howtoholdmyhead，tonod，andreachmyhandtokiss。Afterteachingmethis，theycameonedayandcarriedmeinasplendidcoachtothehouseofthecountess。ThereIdinedwiththem，andthenwedrovetoVersailles。
Theywalkedwithmeinthepark，andataplacenearthepaviliontheystoodstill，andsaidtome：’Hereiswhereyouwillplayyourlittlecomedyto-morrow；thisisthespotwhichthequeenhasherselfappointed，andeverythingwhichtakesplaceisattheexpresscommandofhermajesty。’Thatentirelyquietedme，aridI
turnedbacktoParisoverjoyed，incompanywiththecountessandhercompanion。Theykeptmethatnightintheirbeautifulhome，andonthenextdaywedroveagaintoVersailles，wherethecountesshadasmallsuiteofapartments。Sheherselfdressedme，andcondescendedtohelpmelikeawaiting-maid。“
“Whatkindofasuitdidsheputuponyou？“
“ExactlysuchaoneasIamwearingto-day，onlywhenwewereready，andithadbeguntogrowdark，thecountesslaidawhitemantleoverme，andcoveredmyheadwithacap。Thenshedrovemeintothepark，gavemealetter，andsaid：’Youwillgivethislettertoagentlemanwhowillmeetus。’Wewentinsilencethroughthepathsandalleysofthepark，andIconfessthatmyheartbeatrightanxiously，andthatIhadtothinkagreatdealuponthefifteenthousandfrancs，inordertokeepmycourageup。“
“Didyougowiththecountessalone，orwassomeoneelsewithyou？“
“Thegentlemanwhofirstmademyacquaintance，andwhowas，asI
believe，thehusbandofthecountess，accompaniedus。Afterwehadwalkedaboutforawhile，hestoppedandsaid：’Nowyoumustwalkalone；Ishall，however，bethereattherighttimetomakeanoise，andtoputtheamorouslovertoflight。’Thenhesteppedintothethicket，andwewerealone。Onthisthecountessgavemearose，andsaid：’Youwillgivethisrosewiththelettertotheperson，andsaynothingmorethanthis。Youknowwhatthatsignifies。’Thecountessmademerepeatthatthreetimes，andthensaid：’Youneednotaddasinglewordtothat。Thequeenherselfhasselectedthesewords，andshewillhearwhetheryourepeatthemcorrectly，forshewillstandbehindyou，andbeaspectatorofthewholescene。’Onthisthecountesswithdrew，leadingmeintoathicket，andsoonthegentlemancame，andIcameoutoftheplaceofmyconcealment。Afterhehadmademesomeverydeepreverences，Ihandedhimtheroseandtheletter，andrepeatedtheverywordsthecountesshadtaughtme。
Thegentlemansankuponhisknee，andkissedthehandwhichI
extendedwiththerose。Atthismomentweheardanoise，asifofmen’sstepsapproaching，andthecountesscamerunningup。’ForGod’ssake!’shecried，’wearewatched!Quick，quick，come!’andshedrewmehurriedlyaway。Weleftthegarden，andreturnedtothedwellingofthecountess，andthereIremainedalone，forthecountessandherhusbandsaid，laughing，thattheymustgoandconsoletheoldgentlemanforhavingsoshortarendezvous，andforbeingsoquicklydisturbed。IaskedwhetherIhaddonemypartwell，andthecountesssaidthatthequeenwasverywellsatisfiedwithme——thatshehadstoodinthethicket，andhadobservedall。EarlynextmorningwerodebacktoParis，andwhenwehadarrivedattheirhotel，thecountesspaidmethefifteenthousandfrancsallcorrectly；butshemadethiscondition，thatImustgotoseemyGeorgeassoonaspossible，andthattillIshouldgo，Imustremaininalittleroominherhouse。IwroteatoncetoGeorgeandannouncedmycoming，andthetimeseemedendlesstillIreceivedhisanswer，althoughthecountesspaidagreatdealofattentiontome，andalwaysinvitedmetoherpetitssoupers，wherewehadarightmerrytime。AssoonastheanswerhadcomefrommyGeorge，whowrotemethathewasexpectingme，Itookmydepartureinanelegantpost-
carriage，likealady；forthecountesswasnotwillingthatI
shouldtravelinadiligence，andherhusbandhadpaidinadvanceforallrelaysofhorsesasfarasBrussels，sothatIhadaveryagreeable，comfortableride。Andthis，Ithink，isallthatIhavetorelate，andmysonwillnothaveanunquietnight，forIhavekeptmyword，andtoldeverythingtruthfully。“
“Youhavenothingtoaddtothis？“
“WhatcouldIaddtothis？“askedOliva，sighing。“YouknowaswellasItheendofmyhistory。Youknow，thatafortnightafterthatlittlesceneatVersailles，IwasarrestedbypoliceagentsinBrussels，andbroughttoParis。Youknow，also，thatIsworetotakemylifeifmydearGeorgewerenotallowedtovisitmedailyinprison。Youknowthatmydearchildwasborninprison，andthatitisnowhalfayearold，whilehispoormotherisaccused，andnotyetgainedherfreedom。Youknowthatall!WhathaveIthatIcouldaddtothis？Ibegyou，letmegoandreturntomychild，formylittleGeorgeiscertainlyawake，andhisfatherdoesnotknowhowtoquiethimwhenhecries。“
“Youmaygotoyourchild，“saidthepresident，withagentlesmile。
“Officer，conductMadameOlivabacktothewitness-room。“
MadameOlivaexpressedherthanksforthisbythrowingakissofthehandtothepresidentandthejudges，andthenhastilyfollowedtheofficer，whoopenedthedooroftheadjoiningroom。Asitswungback，aloudcryofachildwasheard，andMadameOliva，whowasstandinguponthethreshold，turnedherfairfacebacktothepresidentwithatriumphantexpression，andsmiled。
“DidInottellyouso？“shecried。“Mysoniscalling，forheislongingforme。Iamcoming，mylittleGeorge，Iamcoming!“
Shesprangforward，andthedoorclosedbehindher。
“Youhaveheardthestatementsofthewitness，“saidthepresident，addressingCountessLamotte。“Youseenowthatwehavetheproofoftheignominiousandtreacherousintrigueswhichyouhaveconducted。
Willyou，inthefaceofsuchproofs，stillendeavortodenythefactswhichhavebeengiveninevidence？“
“Ihaveseenneitherproofsnorfacts，“answeredLamotte，scornfully。“Ihaveonlybeenamazedattheself-possessionwithwhichthequeengoesthroughherpart，andwonderedhowfarherlight-mindednesswillcarryher。Sheistrulyanadroitplayer，andshehasplayedthepartofMadameOlivasowell，thatnotamotionnoratonewouldhavebetrayedthequeen。“
“How，madame？“askedthepresident，inamazement。
“Doyoupretendtoassertthatthiswitness，whohasjustleftthehall，isnotMadameOliva，butanotherperson？Doyounotknowthatthiswitness，thislivingportraitofthequeen，hasfortenmonthsbeendetainedattheBastile，andthatnochangeinthepersonispossible？“
“Ionlyknowthatthequeenhasplayedherpartwell，“saidLamotte，shrugginghershoulders。“Shehasevengonesofar，inherdesiretoshowadifferencebetweenMadameOlivaandthequeen，astomakeaverygreatsacrifice，andtodiscloseasecretofherbeauty。Shehaslaidasideherfinefalseteeth，andletusseehernaturalones，inorderthatwemayseeadifferencebetweenthequeenandMadameOliva。Confessonly，gentlemen，thatitisarareandcomicalsighttohaveaqueensolikeacourtesan，thatyoucanonlydistinguishtheonefromtheotherbytheteeth。“
Andthecountessbrokeoutintoscornfullaughter，whichfoundaloudechoinsomeoftheveiledladiesinthetribune。
“Moderateyourpleasantry，madame，“commandedthepresident。
“Rememberthatyouareinagraveandperiloussituation，andthatjusticehangsoveryouliketheswordofDamocles。Youhavealreadyinvokedyourfate，incallingGodtowitnessthattheinnocentshallnotsufferfortheguilty，andnowthiswordisfulfilledinyourself。Thewholeedificeofyourliesandintriguescrumblesoveryou，andwillcoveryourheadwiththedustofeternalinfamy。“
“Iexperiencenothingofityet，Godbethanked，“criedLamotte，shrugginghershoulders。
“Youwillbepunishedfortheseshamelessdeedssoonerthanyouexpected，“answeredthepresident，solemnly。
“YousaidthatyouwantedproofthatthatwasnotthequeenwhogavetherendezvoustothecardinalinVersailles；thatthepromissorynotewasnotsubscribedbythequeen，andthattheletterstothecardinalwerenotwrittenbyher。Iftheproofofthisweretobedisplayedtoyou，itwouldberighttoaccuseyouofhigh-treason。
WehavealreadyexhibitedtheproofthatitwasnotQueenMarieAntoinettewhomadeanappointmentwiththecardinalinVersailles，butthatitwasthecomedyplannedandbroughtoutbyyourself，withwhichyoudeceivedthecardinal，andmadehimbelievethathewasgoingtobuythenecklaceofwhichyouintendedtorobhim。Itonlyremainstoshowyouthatthesubscriptionofthequeenandtheletterstothecardinalwereforgedbyyou。“
“Andcertainly，“criedthecountess，“Iamverycurioustohaveyouexhibittheproofsofthis!“