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phant's tooth； the butt was of gold and very tastefully wrought。 〃There；〃 said she； 〃that is the way M。 de Vaudreuil has treated a thing I valued highly。 I had laid it upon the couch while I was talking to the Duchess in the salon； he had the assurance to make use of it； and in a fit of passion about a blocked ball； he struck the cue so violently against the table that he broke it in two。 The noise brought me back into the billiard…room； I did not say a word to him； but my looks showed him how angry I was。 He is the more provoked at the accident； as he aspires to the post of Governor to the Dauphin。 I never thought of him for the place。 It is quite enough to have consulted my heart only in the choice of a governess； and I will not suffer that of a Governor to the Dauphin to be at all affected by the influence of my friends。 I should be responsible for it to the nation。 The poor man does not know that my determination is taken； for I have never expressed it to the Duchess。 Therefore； judge of the sort of an evening he must have passed！〃
CHAPTER XIII。
Shortly after the public mind had been thrown into agitation by the performance of the 〃Mariage de Figaro；〃 an obscure plot； contrived by swindlers； and matured in a corrupted society； attacked the Queen's character in a vital point and assailed the majesty of the throne。
I am about to speak of the notorious affair of the necklace purchased； as it was said； for the Queen by Cardinal de Rohan。 I will narrate all that has come to my knowledge relating to this business； the most minute particulars will prove how little reason the Queen had to apprehend the blow by which she was threatened； and which must be attributed to a fatality that human prudence could not have foreseen； but from which； to say the truth； she might have extricated herself with more skill。
I have already said that in 1774 the Queen purchased jewels of Boehmer to the value of three hundred and sixty thousand franca； that she paid for them herself out of her own private funds； and that it required several years to enable her to complete the payment。 The King afterwards presented her with a set of rubies and diamonds of a fine water； and subsequently with a pair of bracelets worth two hundred thousand francs。 The Queen； after having her diamonds reset in new patterns； told Boehmer that she found her jewel case rich enough； and was not desirous of making any addition to it。
＇Except on those days when the assemblies at Court were particularly attended； such as the 1st of January and the 2d of February； devoted to the procession of the Order of the Holy Ghost； and on the festivals of Easter； Whitsuntide； and Christmas； the Queen no longer wore any dresses but muslin or white Florentine taffety。 Her head… dress was merely a hat； the plainest were preferred； and her diamonds never quitted their caskets but for the dresses of ceremony； confined to the days I have mentioned。 Before the Queen was five and twenty she began to apprehend that she might be induced to make too frequent use of flowers and of ornaments； which at that time were exclusively reserved for youth。 Madame Bertin having brought a wreath for the head and neck； composed of roses； the Queen feared that the brightness of the flowers might be disadvantageous to her complexion。 She was unquestionably too severe upon herself； her beauty having as yet experienced no alteration； it is easy to conceive the concert of praise and compliment that replied to the doubt she had expressed。 The Queen； approaching me； said； 〃I charge you； from this day； to give me notice when flowers shall cease to become me。〃〃I shall do no such thing；〃 I replied； immediately； 〃I have not read 'Gil Bias' without profiting in some degree from it； and I find your Majesty's order too much like that given him by the Archbishop of Granada； to warn him of the moment when he should begin to fall off in the composition of his homilies。〃〃Go；〃 said 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 abou