_ CHAPTER XXXIX. THE TEMPTRESS
Madame de la Motte remained, therefore, as before.
"Madame," replied M. Boehmer, "we do not come to offer anything to your majesty, we should fear to be indiscreet; but we come to fulfil a duty, and that has emboldened us----"
"A duty?"
"Concerning the necklace which your majesty did not deign to take."
"Oh! then, the necklace has come again," said Marie Antoinette, laughing. "It was really beautiful, M. Boehmer."
"So beautiful," said Bossange, "that your majesty alone was worthy to wear it."
"My consolation is," said the queen, with a sigh which did not escape Jeanne, "that it cost a million and a half. Was not that the price, M. Boehmer?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"And in these times," continued the queen, "there is no sovereign that can give such a sum for a necklace; so that although I cannot wear it, no one else can: and once broken up, I should care nothing about it."
"That is an error of your majesty's; the necklace is sold."
"Sold!" cried the queen. "To whom?"
"Ah! madame, that is a state secret."
"Oh!" said the queen, "I think I am safe. A state secret means that there is nothing to tell."
"With your majesty," continued Boehmer, as gravely as ever, "we do not act as with others. The necklace is sold, but in the most secret manner, and an ambassador----"
"I really think he believes it himself!" interrupted the queen, laughing again. "Come, M. Boehmer, tell me at least the country he comes from, or, at all events, the first letter of his name."
"Madame, it is the ambassador from Portugal," said Boehmer, in a low voice, that Madame de la Motte might not hear.
"The ambassador from Portugal!" said the queen. "There is none here, M. Boehmer."
"He came expressly for this, madame."
"Do you imagine so?"
"Yes, madame."
"What is his name?"
"M. de Souza."
The queen did not reply for a few minutes, and then said, "Well, so much the better for the Queen of Portugal. Let us speak of it no more."
"But allow us one moment, madame," said Boehmer.
"Have you ever seen those diamonds?" said the queen to Jeanne.
"No, madame."
"They are beautiful. It is a pity these gentlemen have not brought them."
"Here they are," said Boehmer, opening the case.
"Come, countess, you are a woman, and these will please you."
Jeanne uttered a cry of admiration when she saw them, and said, "They are indeed beautiful."
"1,500,000 francs, which you hold in the palm of your hand," said the queen.
"Monsieur was right," said Jeanne, "when he said that no one was worthy to wear these diamonds but your majesty."
"However, my majesty will not wear them."
"We could not let them leave France without expressing our regret to your majesty. It is a necklace which is now known all over Europe, and we wished to know definitively that your majesty really refused it before we parted with it."
"My refusal has been made public," said the queen, "and has been too much applauded for me to repent of it."
"Oh, madame!" said Boehmer, "if the people found it admirable that your majesty preferred a ship of war to a necklace, the nobility at least would not think it surprising if you bought the necklace after all."
"Do not speak of it any more," said Marie Antoinette, casting at the same time a longing look at the casket.
Jeanne sighed, "Ah, you sigh, countess; in my place you would act differently."
"I do not know, madame."
"Have you looked enough?"
"Oh no! I could look forever."
"Let her look, gentlemen; that takes nothing from the value. Unfortunately, they are still worth 1,500,000 francs."
"Oh," thought Jeanne, "she is regretting it." And she said, "On your neck, madame, they would make all women die with jealousy, were they as beautiful as Cleopatra or Venus." And, approaching, she clasped it round her neck. "Ah, your majesty is beautiful so!"
The queen turned to the mirror. It was really splendid; every one must have admired. Marie Antoinette forgot herself for a time in admiration; then, seized with fear, she tried to take it off.
"It has touched your majesty's neck; it ought not to belong to any one else," said Boehmer.
"Impossible!" said the queen, firmly. "Gentlemen, I have amused myself with these jewels; to do more would be a fault."
"We will return to-morrow," said Boehmer.
"No; I must pay sooner or later; and, besides, doubtless you want your money. You will get it soon."
"Yes, your majesty," said the merchant, a man of business again.
"Take the necklace back," said the queen; "put it away immediately."
"Your majesty forgets that such a thing is equal to money itself."
"And that in a hundred years it will be worth as much as it is now," said Jeanne.
"Give me 1,500,000 francs," said the queen, "and we shall see."
"Oh, if I had them!"
MM. Boehmer and Bossange took as long as possible to put back the necklace, but the queen did not speak.
At last they said, "Your majesty refuses them?"
"Yes, oh yes!" And they quitted the room.
Marie Antoinette remained sitting, looking rather gloomy, and beating with her foot in an impatient manner; at last she said, "Countess, it seems the king will not return; we must defer our supplication till another time."
Jeanne bowed respectfully.
"But I will not forget you," added the queen.
"She is regretting and desiring," thought Jeanne, as she left; "and yet she is a queen." _