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countess made me repeat that three times； and then said： 'You need
not add a single word to that。 The queen herself has selected these
words； and she will hear whether you repeat them correctly； for she
will stand behind you； and be a spectator of the whole scene。' On
this the countess withdrew； leading me into a thicket； and soon the
gentleman came； and I came out of the place of my concealment。 After
he had made me some very deep reverences； I handed him the rose and
the letter； and repeated the very words the countess had taught me。
The gentleman sank upon his knee； and kissed the hand which I
extended with the rose。 At this moment we heard a noise； as if of
men's steps approaching； and the countess came running up。 'For
God's sake！' she cried； 'we are watched！ Quick； quick； come！' and
she drew me hurriedly away。 We left the garden； and returned to the
dwelling of the countess； and there I remained alone； for the
countess and her husband said； laughing； that they must go and
console the old gentleman for having so short a rendezvous； and for
being so quickly disturbed。 I asked whether I had done my part well；
and the countess said that the queen was very well satisfied with
methat she had stood in the thicket； and had observed all。 Early
next morning we rode back to Paris； and when we had arrived at their
hotel； the countess paid me the fifteen thousand francs all
correctly； but she made this condition； that I must go to see my
George as soon as possible； and that till I should go； I must remain
in a little room in her house。 I wrote at once to George and
announced my coming； and the time seemed endless till I received his
answer； although the countess paid a great deal of attention to me；
and always invited me to her petits soupers； where we had a right
merry time。 As soon as the answer had come from my George； who wrote
me that he was expecting me； I took my departure in an elegant post…
carriage； like a lady； for the countess was not willing that I
should travel in a diligence； and her husband had paid in advance
for all relays of horses as far as Brussels； so that I had a very
agreeable； comfortable ride。 And this； I think； is all that I have
to relate； and my son will not have an unquiet night； for I have
kept my word； and told every thing truthfully。〃
〃You have nothing to add to this？〃
〃What could I add to this？〃 asked Oliva； sighing。 〃You know as well
as I the end of my history。 You know； that a fortnight after that
little scene at Versailles； I was arrested by police agents in
Brussels； and brought to Paris。 You know； also； that I swore to take
my life if my dear George were not allowed to visit me daily in
prison。 You know that my dear child was born in prison； and that it
is now half a year old； while his poor mother is accused； and not
yet gained her freedom。 You know that all！ What have I that I could
add to this？ I beg you； let me go and return to my child； for my
little George is certainly awake； and his father does not know how
to quiet him when he cries。〃
〃You may go to your child；〃 said the president； with a gentle smile。
〃Officer； conduct Madame Oliva back to the witness…room。〃
Madame Oliva expressed her thanks for this by throwing a kiss of the
hand to the president and the judges； and then hastily followed the
officer； who opened the door of the adjoining room。 As it swung
back； a loud cry of a child was heard； and Madame Oliva； who was
standing upon the threshold； turned her fair face back to the
president with a triumphant expression； and smiled。
〃Did I not tell you so？〃 she cried。 〃My son is calling； for he is
longing for me。 I am coming； my little George； I am coming！〃
She sprang forward； and the door closed behind her。
〃You have heard the statements of the witness；〃 said the president；
addressing Countess Lamotte。 〃You see now that we have the proof of
the ignominious and treacherous intrigues which you have conducted。
Will you； in the face of such proofs； still endeavor to deny the
facts which have been given in evidence？〃
〃I have seen neither proofs nor facts；〃 answered Lamotte；
scornfully。 〃I have only been amazed at the self…possession with
which the queen goes through her part； and wondered how far her
light…mindedness will carry her。 She is truly an adroit player； and
she has played the part of Madame Oliva so well； that not a motion
nor a tone would have betrayed the queen。〃
〃How； madame？〃 asked the president； in amazement。
〃Do you pretend to assert that this witness； who has just left the
hall； is not Madame Oliva； but another person？ Do you not know that
this witness； this living portrait of the queen； has for ten months
been detained at the Bastile； and that no change in the person is
possible？〃
〃I only know that the queen has played her part well；〃 said Lamotte；
shrugging her shoulders。 〃She has even gone so far； in her desire to
show a difference between Madame Oliva and the queen； as to make a
very great sacrifice； and to disclose a secret of her beauty。 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。 If the proof of this were to be
displayed to you； it would be right to accuse you of high…treason。
We have already exhibited the proof that it was not Queen Marie
Antoinette who made an appointment with the cardinal in Versailles；
but that it was the comedy planned and brought out by yourself； with
which you deceived the cardinal； and made him believe that he was
going to buy the necklace of which you intended to rob him。 It only
remains to show you that the subscription of the queen and the
letters to the cardinal were forged by you。〃
〃And certainly；〃 cried the countess； 〃I am very curious to have you
exhibit the proofs of this！〃
〃That is a very simple matter；〃 answered the president； calmly。 〃We
confront you with him who at your direction imitated the handwriting
of the queen and wrote the letters。 Officer； summon the last
witness！〃
The officer threw open the door which led to the next room。 A
breathless silence prevailed in the great hall； every one was
intensely eager to see this last witness who was to uncover the web
of frauds of the countess's spinning。 The great burning eyes of the
accused； too； were turned to this door； and her compressed lips and
her piercing glance disclosed a little of the anxiety of her soul；
although her bearing and manner were still impudent and scornful。
And now the door opened； and a cry of amazement and rage broke from
the lips of the countess。
〃Retaux de Vilette；〃 cried she madly； doubling up her little hands
into fists and extending them toward the man who now entered the
hall。 〃Shameful； shameful！ He has turned against me！〃
And losing for a moment her composure； she sank back upon the seat
from which she had risen in her fright。 A deathly paleness covered
her cheeks； and； almost swooning； she rested her head on the back of
the chair。
〃You now see that God is just；〃 said the president； after a brief
pause。 〃Your own conscience testifies against you and compels you to
confess yourself guilty。〃
She sprang up and compelled herself to resume her self…possessed
manner； and to appear cool and defiant as before。
〃No！〃 she said； 〃I do not confess myself guilty； and I have no
reason to！ My heart only shuddered when I saw this man enter； whom I
have saved from hunger； overwhelmed with kindness； and whom my
enemies have now brought up to make him testify against me！ But it
is overI am now ready to see new lies； new infamies heaped upon
me： M。 Retaux de Vilette may now speak on； his calumnies will only
drop from the undented mail of my conscience！〃
And with possessed bearing and an air of proud scorn； Countess
Lamotte looked at the man who； bowing and trembling； advanced by the
side of the officer to the green table； and sedulously shunned
meeting the eyes of Lamotte； which rested on him like two fiery
daggers。
The president