“Monsieur was right,” said Jeanne, “when he said that no one was worthy to wear these diamonds but your majesty.”
“However, my majesty will not wear them.”
“We could not let them leave France without expressing our regret to your majesty. It is a necklace which is now known all over Europe, and we wished to know definitively that your majesty really refused it before we parted with it.”
“My refusal has been made public,” said the queen, “and has been too much applauded for me to repent of it.”
“Oh, madame!” said Bœhmer, “if the people found it admirable that your majesty preferred a ship of war to a necklace, the nobility at least would not think it surprising if you bought the necklace after all.”
“Do not speak of it any more,” said Marie Antoinette, casting at the same time a longing look at the casket.
Jeanne sighed, “Ah, you sigh, countess; in my place you would act differently.”
“I do not know, madame.”
“Have you looked enough?”
“Oh no! I could look forever.”