" THE DIAMOND NECKLACE."	117
	with Marie Antoinette herself—that is to say, with a certain nymph D'Oliva, who, in figure and in gait, was almost her Majesty's counterpart. La Motte, having thus effectually won the confidence of the Cardinal, began to represent to him the Queen's intense longing for the neck­lace, and the favour he would gain with her by effecting the purchase of it, not as a present, it must be borne in mind, but merely to secure the same upon his own respon­sibility with the jeweller. The Cardinal, therefore, duped by this plausible story, concluded the purchase in Feb­ruary, 1785 ; the conditions being that the amount was to be paid in four half-yearly instalments of 400,000 livres each. This agreement was supposed to be submitted to the Queen, and was returned approved and signed by her : a forgery by La Motte's husband. The necklace was now entrusted to La Motte for conveyance to the Queen in the manner best calculated to advance her admirer's interests;— it was handed over to her husband, who lost no time in betaking himself and the spoil to London, where he broke up the necklace and converted the brilliants into money. Why Madame did not follow him on the first fair opportunity is a mystery to me inexplicable, unless, indeed, her avarice induced her not to give up plucking so fat a pigeon until the very last moment, and thus caused her to overstay her time. The dénomment did not arrive before the end of the first half year, when Böhmer, after a decent delay, ventured to remind the Queen of her agreement, signed with her own hand. Then came a com­plete espose. The Cardinal was sent to the Bastille, in pontificalibus, just as he was about to sing mass before the court; but after a short imprisonment was released, and sent in disgrace to reside at an abbey of his in Au­vergne. Madame La Motte was sentenced to be whipped,