She
has laid aside her fine false teeth, and let us see her natural
ones, in order that we may see a difference between the queen and
Madame Oliva. Confess only, gentlemen, that it is a rare and comical
sight to have a queen so like a courtesan, that you can only
distinguish the one from the other by the teeth."
And the countess broke out into scornful laughter, which found a
loud echo in some of the veiled ladies in the tribune.
"Moderate your pleasantry, madame," commanded the president.
"Remember that you are in a grave and perilous situation, and that
justice hangs over you like the sword of Damocles. You have already
invoked your fate, in calling God to witness that the innocent shall
not suffer for the guilty, and now this word is fulfilled in
yourself. The whole edifice of your lies and intrigues crumbles over
you, and will cover your head with the dust of eternal infamy."
"I experience nothing of it yet, God be thanked," cried Lamotte,
shrugging her shoulders.
"You will be punished for these shameless deeds sooner than you
expected," answered the president, solemnly.
"You said that you wanted proof that that was not the queen who gave
the rendezvous to the cardinal in Versailles; that the promissory
note was not subscribed by the queen, and that the letters to the
cardinal were not written by her.
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