“Come,” said the cardinal, “this seems a serious affair. This is what I did: first, I bought the necklace of you for her majesty, and paid you 100,000 francs.”
“True, monseigneur.”
“Afterwards you told me that the queen had acknowledged the debt in writing, and fixed the periods of payment.”
“We said so. Will your eminence look at this signature?”
He looked at it, and said directly, “‘Marie Antoinette of France:’ you have been deceived, gentlemen; this is not her signature; she is of the House of Austria.”
“Then,” cried the jewelers, “Madame de la Motte must know the forger and the robber.”
The cardinal appeared struck with this. He acted like the queen; he rang, and said, “Send for Madame de la Motte.” His servants went after Jeanne’s carriage, which had not long left the hotel.
M. Bœhmer continued, “But where is the necklace?”
“How can I tell?” cried the cardinal; “I gave it to the queen. I know no more.”
“We must have our necklace, or our money,” cried the jewelers.