252 A FAMOUS NECKLACE.
there
had been any diamond robbery of late. But no—there had been nothing of
the kind. Nobody complained of having been robbed; court jewelers and
cardinal were still in the happy anticipation of coming favors. The man
Villette was the writer of the Queen's letters to the cardinal, he was
also the lackey who had taken charge of the necklace for the writer of
those letters. He was a very useful friend to Madame de la Motte until
at last he turned king's evidence and explained the whole fraud. The
Count de la Motte next proceeded to London and there sold several
hundreds of diamonds. Some stones he disposed of to Mr. Eliason the
dealer who in after years it will be remembered had the Blue diamond in
his possession. Upon the proceeds of these sales the la Mottes lived
in Oriental splendor both in Fans and at their country seat at
Bar-sur-Aube. This was in the spring of 1785, and until the first
installment, due in July, became payable they seemed to live on
absolutely oblivious of
