I will
read you the address which the king sent to Parliament to-day, and
with which the hearing of Cardinal de Rohan's case is to begin. Will
the people hear it?"
"Yes, we will hear it," was the cry from all sides. "Read us the
address."
Marat drew a dirty piece of paper from his pocket, and began to read
with a loud, barking voice:
"Louis, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, to our dear
and faithful counsellors, members of the court of our Parliament,
greeting:
"It has come to our knowledge that parties named Bohmer and Bassenge
have, without the knowledge of the queen, our much-loved consort and
spouse, sold a diamond necklace, valued at one million six hundred
thousand francs, to Cardinal de Rohan, who stated to them that he
was acting in the matter under the queen's instructions. Papers were
laid before them which they considered as approved and subscribed by
the queen. After the said Bohmer and Bassenge had delivered the said
necklace to the said cardinal, and had not received the first
payment, they applied to the queen herself. We have beheld, not
without righteous indignation, the eminent name, which in many ways
is so dear to us, lightly spoken of, and denied the respect which is
due to the royal majesty. We have thought that it pertains to the
jurisdiction of our court to give a hearing to the said cardinal,
and in view of the declaration which he has made before us, that he
was deceived by a woman named Lamotte-Valois, we have held it
necessary to secure his person, as well as that of Madame Valois, in
order to bring all the parties to light who have been the
instigators or abettors of such a plot.
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