A FAMOUS NECKLACE. 241
Louis
xv. died and Louis xvi. reigned in his stead. By this time the necklace
was complete, and what it was in its completeness let the pen of
Carlyle tell us :
"
A row of seventeen glorious diamonds as large almost as filberts
encircle not too tightly the neck a first time. Looser gracefully
fastened thrice to these a three-wreathed festoon and pendants enough
(simple pear-shaped multiple star-shaped or clustering amorphous)
encirle it, enwreathe it a second time. Loosest of all, softly flowing
round from behind in priceless catenary rush down two broad threefold
rows, seem to knot themselves round a very queen of diamonds on the
bosom, then rush on again separated as if there were length in plenty.
The very tassels of them were a fortune for some men. And now lastly
two other inexpressible threefold rows also with their tassels will
when the necklace is on and clasped unite themselves behind into a
doubly inexpressible sixfold row, and so stream down together or
asunder over the hind neck — we may fancy like a lambent zodiacal or
Aurora Borealis fire."
Such
being the doubly inexpressible description of this marvelous jewel we
are not surprised that an awful difficulty should now arise to
confound the luckless jewelers.
