and
that it was some dreadful mistake, and" then in the greatest distress
besought her royal mistress to inquire carefully into the story, as she
greatly feared some scandal was being effected in the Queen's name.
Hearing
a rumor of trouble Madame de la Motte visited the jewelers, warned them
to be on their guard (as she feared they were being imposed upon !) and
then inexplicably remained in Paris, instead of escaping beyond the
reach of the Bastile. The cardinal heard the rumor also; he was
disturbed, but relied though with dawning doubt upon these letters from
the Queen signed Marie Antoinette de Frame.
The
fifteenth of August was and is a great day in all Catholic countries.
It is the feast of the Assumption, an occasion upon which prelates don
their most splendid robes and appear in all their dignity. During the
reign of Louis xvi. it was an especially honored day, being besides a
religious festival also the name day of the Queen. On this day in 1785
at Ver-
