244 A FAMOUS NECKLACE.
jeweler,
who became almost a monomaniac on the subject of selling his necklace
to Marie Antoinette, used always to attend with the glittering jewel
at each happy event, so that the witty courtiers used to say whenever
he appeared at Versailles:
" Oh! here's Bohmer. There must be another baby born !"
One
day after about ten years of fruitless solicitation he threw himself at
the Queen's feet and declared that utter ruin was come upon him through
the necklace, that he would drown himself if she did not buy it, and
that his death would be upon her head. Her Majesty, much incensed,
replied that she had not ordered the necklace and was therefore not
bound to buy it, and ended by commanding him to leave her presence and
never more let her hear about the jewel again. She thought the matter
was finally ended. Poor Marie Antoinette! She was destined to be
haunted through life by those terrible diamonds and to be asked about
them
