On the next day the Countess Valois
brought a billet from the queen, in which she deeply regretted that
their interview yesterday had been so brief, and promising a speedy
appointment again. Some days after this occurrence, which constantly
occupied the mind of the cardinal, he was obliged to go to Alsace,
to celebrate a church festival. On the very next day, however, came
the husband of the countess, Count Lamotte, sent as a courier by the
countess. He handed the cardinal a letter from the queen, short and
full of secrecy, like the earlier ones.
"The moment," wrote the queen--" the moment which I desired is not
yet come. But I beg you to return at once to Paris, because I am in
a secret affair, which concerns me personally, and which I shall
intrust to you alone, and in which I need your assistance. The
Countess Lamotte-Valois will give you the key to this riddle."
As if on the wings of birds, the cardinal returned to Paris, and at
once repaired to the little palace which the countess had purchased
with the fruits of his liberality. Here he learned of her the reason
of his being sent for. The matter in question was the purchasing of
a set of jewels, which the royal jewellers, Bohmer and Bassenge, had
often offered to the queen. Marie Antoinette had seen the necklace,
and had been enraptured with the size and beauty of the diamonds.
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