the memoirs of marie antoinette-第39章

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　　　　　　the　Queen；　〃You　are　less　sincere　than　Gil　Blas；　and　I　world　have　　　　　　been　more　amenable　than　the　Archbishop。〃　MADAME　CAMPAN。＇

Still；　this　jeweller　busied　himself　for　some　years　in　forming　a　collection　of　the　finest　diamonds　circulating　in　the　trade；　in　order　to　compose　a　necklace　of　several　rows；　which　he　hoped　to　induce　her　Majesty　to　purchase；　he　brought　it　to　M。　Campan；　requesting　him　to　mention　it　to　the　Queen；　that　she　might　ask　to　see　it；　and　thus　be　induced　to　wish　to　possess　it。　　This　M。　Campan　refused　to　do；　telling　him　that　he　should　be　stepping　out　of　the　line　of　his　duty　were　he　to　propose　to　the　Queen　an　expense　of　sixteen　hundred　thousand　francs；　and　that　he　believed　neither　the　lady　of　honour　nor　the　tirewoman　would　take　upon　herself　to　execute　such　a　commission。　　Boehmer　persuaded　the　King's　first　gentleman　for　the　year　to　show　this　superb　necklace　to　his　Majesty；　who　admired　it　so　much　that　he　himself　wished　to　see　the　Queen　adorned　with　it；　and　sent　the　case　to　her；　but　she　assured　him　she　should　much　regret　incurring　so　great　an　expense　for　such　an　article；　that　she　had　already　very　beautiful　diamonds；　that　jewels　of　that　description　were　now　worn　at　Court　not　more　than　four　or　five　times　a　year；　that　the　necklace　must　be　returned；　and　that　the　money　would　be　much　better　employed　in　building　a　man…of…war。

　　　　　＇Messieurs　Boehmer　and　Bassange；　jewellers　to　the　Crown；　were　　　　　　proprietors　of　a　superb　diamond　necklace；　which　had；　as　it　was　said；　　　　　　been　intended　for　the　Comtesse　du　Barry。　　Being　under　the　necessity　　　　　　of　selling　it；　they　offered　it；　during　the　last　war；　to　the　king　and　　　　　　Queen；　but　their　Majesties　made　the　following　prudent　answer：　〃We　　　　　　stand　more　in　need　of　ships　than　of　jewels。〃〃Secret　Correspondence　　　　　　of　the　Court　of　Louis　XVI。〃＇

Boehmer；　in　sad　tribulation　at　finding　his　expectations　delusive；　endeavoured　for　some　time；　it　is　said；　to　dispose　of　his　necklace　among　the　various　Courts　of　Europe。

A　year　after　his　fruitless　attempts；　Boehmer　again　caused　his　diamond　necklace　to　be　offered　to　the　King；　proposing　that　it　should　be　paid　for　partly　by　instalments；　and　partly　in　life　annuities；　this　proposal　was　represented　as　highly　advantageous；　and　the　King；　in　my　presence；　mentioned　the　matter　once　more　to　the　Queen。　　I　remember　the　Queen　told　him　that；　if　the　bargain　really　was　not　bad；　he　might　make　it；　and　keep　the　necklace　until　the　marriage　of　one　of　his　children；　but　that；　for　her　part；　she　would　never　wear　it；　being　unwilling　that　the　world　should　have　to　reproach　her　with　having　coveted　so　expensive　an　article。　　The　King　replied　that　their　children　were　too　young　to　justify　such　an　expense；　which　would　be　greatly　increased　by　the　number　of　years　the　diamonds　would　remain　useless；　and　that　he　would　finally　decline　the　offer。　Boehmer　complained　to　everybody　of　his　misfortune；　and　all　reasonable　people　blamed　him　for　having　collected　diamonds　to　so　considerable　an　amount　without　any　positive　order　for　them。　　This　man　had　purchased　the　office　of　jeweller　to　the　Crown；　which　gave　him　some　rights　of　entry　at　Court。　　After　several　months　spent　in　ineffectual　attempts　to　carry　his　point；　and　in　idle　complaints；　he　obtained　an　audience　of　the　Queen；　who　had　with　her　the　young　Princess；　her　daughter；　her　Majesty　did　not　know　for　what　purpose　Boehmer　sought　this　audience；　and　had　not　the　slightest　idea　that　it　was　to　speak　to　her　again　about　an　article　twice　refused　by　herself　and　the　King。

Boehmer　threw　himself　upon　his　knees；　clasped　his　hands；　burst　into　tears；　and　exclaimed；　〃Madame；　I　am　ruined　and　disgraced　if　you　do　not　purchase　my　necklace。　　I　cannot　outlive　so　many　misfortunes。　　When　I　go　hence　I　shall　throw　myself　into　the　river。〃

〃Rise；　Boehmer；〃　said　the　Queen；　in　a　tone　sufficiently　severe　to　recall　him　to　himself；　〃I　do　not　like　these　rhapsodies；　honest　men　have　no　occasion　to　fall　on　their　knees　to　make　their　requests。　　If　you　were　to　destroy　yourself　I　should　regret　you　as　a　madman　in　whom　I　had　taken　an　interest；　but　I　should　not　be　in　any　way　responsible　for　that　misfortune。　Not　only　have　I　never　ordered　the　article　which　causes　your　present　despair；　but　whenever　you　have　talked　to　me　about　fine　collections　of　jewels　I　have　told　you　that　I　should　not　add　four　diamonds　to　those　which　I　already　possessed。　　I　told　you　myself　that　I　declined　taking　the　necklace；　the　King　wished　to　give　it　to　me；　but　I　refused　him　also；　never　mention　it　to　me　again。　　Divide　it　and　try　to　sell　it　piecemeal；　and　do　not　drown　yourself。　　I　am　very　angry　with　you　for　acting　this　scene　of　despair　in　my　presence　and　before　this　child。　　Let　me　never　see　you　behave　thus　again。　　Go。〃　　Baehmer　withdrew；　overwhelmed　with　confusion；　and　nothing　further　was　then　heard　of　him。

When　Madame　Sophie　was　born　the　Queen　told　me　M。　de　Saint…James；　a　rich　financier；　had　apprised　her　that　Boehmer　was　still　intent　upon　the　sale　of　his　necklace；　and　that　she　ought；　for　her　own　satisfaction；　to　endeavour　to　learn　what　the　man　had　done　with　it；　she　desired　me　the　first　time　I　should　meet　him　to　speak　to　him　about　it；　as　if　from　the　interest　I　took　in　his　welfare。　　I　spoke　to　him　about　his　necklace；　and　he　told　me　he　had　been　very　fortunate；　having　sold　it　at　Constantinople　for　the　favourite　sultana。　　I　communicated　this　answer　to　the　Queen；　who　was　delighted　with　it；　but　could　not　comprehend　how　the　Sultan　came　to　purchase　his　diamonds　in　Paris。

The　Queen　long　avoided　seeing　Boehmer；　being　fearful　of　his　rash　character；　and　her　valet　de　chambre；　who　had　the　care　of　her　jewels；　made　the　necessary　repairs　to　her　ornaments　unassisted。　　On　the　baptism　of　the　Duc　d'Angouleme；　in　1785；　the　King　gave　him　a　diamond　epaulet　and　buckles；　and　directed　Baehmer　to　deliver　them　to　the　Queen。　　Boehmer　presented　them　on　her　return　from　mass；　and　at　the　same　time　gave　into　her　hands　a　letter　in　the　form　of　a　petition。　　In　this　paper　he　told　the　Queen　that　he　was　happy　to　see　her　〃in　possession　of　the　finest　diamonds　known　in　Europe；〃　and　entreated　her　not　to　forget　him。　　The　Queen　read　Boehmer's　address　to　her　aloud；　and　saw　nothing　in　it　but　a　proof　of　mental　aberration；　she　lighted　the　paper　at　a　wax　taper　standing　near　her；　as　she　had　some　letters　to　seal；　saying；　〃It　is　not　worth　keeping。〃　She　afterwards　much　regretted　the　loss　of　this　enigmatical　memorial。　After　having　burnt　the　paper；　her　Majesty　said　to　me；　〃That　man　is　born　to　be　my　torment；　he　has　always　some　mad　scheme　in　his　head；　remember；　the　first　time　you　see　him；　to　tell　him　that　I　do　not　like　diamonds　now；　and　that　I　will　buy　no　more　so　long　as　I　live；　that　if　I　had　any　money　to　spare　I　would　rather　add　to　my　property　at　St。　Cloud　by　the　purchase　of　the　land　surrounding　it；　now；　mind　you　enter　into　all　these　particulars　and　impress　them　well　upon　him。〃　　I　asked　her　whether　she　wished　me　to　send　for　him；　she　replied　in　the　negative；　adding　that　it　would　be　sufficient　to　avail　myself　of　the　first　opportunity　afforded　by　meeting　him；　and　that　the　slightest　advance　towards　such　a　man　would　be　misplaced。

On　the　1st　of　August　I　left　Versailles　for　my　country　house　at　Crespy；　on　the　3d　came　Boehmer；　extremely　uneasy　at　not　having　received　any　answer　from　the　Queen；　to　ask　me　whether　I　had　any　commission　from　her　to　him；　I　replied　that　she　had　entrusted　me　with　none；　that　she　had　no　commands　for　him；　and　I　faithfully　repeated　all　she　had　desired　me　to　say　to　him。

〃But；〃　said　Boehmer；　〃the　answer　to　the　letter　I　presented　to　her；to　whom　must　I　apply　for　that？〃

〃To　nobody；〃　answered　I；　〃her　Majesty　burnt　your　memorial　without　even　comprehending　its　meaning。〃

〃Ah！　madame；〃　exclaimed　he；　〃that　is　impossible；　the　Queen　knows　that　she　has　money　to　pay　me！〃

〃Money；　M。　Boehmer？　　Your　last　accounts　against　the　Queen　were　discharged　long　ago。〃

〃Madame；　you　are　not　in　the　secret。　　A　man　who　is　ruined　for　want　of　payment　of　fifteen　hundred　thousand　francs　cannot　be　said　to　be　satisfied。〃

〃Have　you　lost　your　senses？〃　said　I。　　〃For　what　can　the　Queen　owe　you　so　extravagant　a　sum？〃

〃For　my　necklace；　madame；〃　replied　Boehmer；　coolly。

〃What！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃that　necklace　again；　which　you　have　teased　the　Queen　about　so　many　years！　　Did　you　not　tell　me　you　had　sold　it　at　Constantinople？〃

〃The　Queen　desired　me　to　give　that　answer　to　all　who　should　speak　to　me　on　the　subject；〃　said　the　wretched　dupe。　　He　then　told　me　that　the　Queen　wished　to　have　the　necklace；　and　had　had　it　purchased　for　her　by　Monseigneur；　the　Cardinal　de　Rohan。

〃You　are　deceived；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃the　Queen　has　not　once　spoken　to　the　Cardinal　since　his　return　from　Vienna；　there　is　not　a　man　at　her　Court　less　favourably　looked　upon。〃

〃You　are　deceived　yourself；　madame；〃　said　Boehmer；　〃she　sees　him　so　much　in　private　that　it　was　to　his　Eminence　she　gave　thirty　thousand　francs；　which　were　paid　me　as　an　instalment；　she　took　them；　in　his　presence；　out　of　the　little　secretaire　of　Sevres　porcelain　next　the　fireplace　in　her　boudoir。〃

〃And　the　Cardinal　told　you　all　this？〃

〃Yes；　madame；　himself。〃

〃What　a　detestable　plot！〃　　cried　I。

〃Indeed；　to　say　the　truth；　madame；　I　begin　to　be　much　alarmed；　for　his　Eminence　assured　me　that　the　Queen　would　wear　the　necklace　on　Whit…　Sunday；　but　I　did　not　see　it　upon　her；　and　it　was　that　which　induced　me　to　write　to　her　Majesty。〃

He　then　asked　me　what　he　ought　to　do。　　I　advised　him　to　go　on　to　Versailles；　instead　of　returning　to　Paris；　whence　he　had　just　arrived；　to　obtain　an　immediate　audience　from　the　Baron　de　Breteuil；　who；　as　head　of　the　King's　household；　was　the　minister　of　the　department　to　which　Boehmer　belonged；　and　to　be　circumspect；　and　I　added　that　he　appeared　to　me　extremely　culpable；not　as　a　diamond　merchant；　but　because　being　a　sworn　officer　it　was　unpardonable　of　him　to　have　acted　without　the　direct　orders　of　the　King；　the　Queen；　or　the　Minister。　　He　answered；　that　he　had　not　acted　without　direct　orders；　that　he　had　in　his　possession　all　the　notes　signed　by　the　Queen；　and　that　he　had　even　been　obliged　to　show　them　to　several　bankers　in　order　to　induce　them　to　extend　the　time　for　his　payments。　　I　urged　his　departure　for　Versailles；　and　he　assured　me　he　would　go　there　immediately。　　Instead　of　following　my　advice；　he　went　to　the　Cardinal；　and　it　was　of　this　visit　of　Boehmer's　that　his　Eminence　made　a　memorandum；　found　in　a　drawer　overlooked　by　the　Abbe　Georgel　when　he　burnt；　by　order　of　the　Cardinal；　all　the　papers　which　the　latter　had　at　Paris。　　The　memorandum　was　thus　worded：　〃On　this　day；　3d　August；　Boehmer　went　to　Madame　Campan's　country　house；　and　she　told　him　that　the　Queen　had　never　had　his　necklace；　and　that　he　had　been　deceived。〃

When　Boehmer　was　gone；　I　wanted　to　follow　him；　and　go　to　the　Queen；　my　father…in…law　prevented　me；　and　ordered　me　to　leave　the　minister　to　elucidate　such　an　important　affair；　observing　that　it　was　an　infernal　plot；　that　I　had　given　Boehmer　the　best　advice；　and　had　nothing　more　to　do　with　the　business。　　Boehmer　never　said　one　word　to　me　about　the　woman　De　Lamotte；　and　her　name　was　mentioned　for　the　first　time　by　the　Cardinal　in　his　answers　to　the　interrogatories　put　to　him　before　the　King。　　After　seeing　the　Cardinal；　Boehmer　went　to　Trianon；　and　sent　a　message　to　the　Queen；　purporting　that　I　ha