The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-09-03
The Diamond Tags,

/ facts OF the affair of the diamond tags, out of
which Dumas has made SO pleasant story
/ in the three "Guardsmcn."
The Queen then wrote letter to Buck
ngham, in which she bcsought him imme-
dialely to leave France. This done, she
gave into the charge of her attendant not
only the letter, but also check containing
the aiguilettc, with its diamond pendants,
which had been presented TO her bv the
king, and in which She appeared at the ball
of Madame Chcvreusc. The first she knew
would inilict a pang-and the second was
intended to heal the wound, by serving as
a memorial Of their friendship.
IL may for moment create surprise that
the queen should venture to disposScSS her
sell Of 50 recently acquired and so remarka-
bic an ornament but be il remembered that
/ her resources were scanty, that she had al
ready done honor 90 the present Of the king
by that appearing with it on her person in
public, and that, while as a sovereign. she
could not offer to the magnificent duke
"A remembrance without some intrinsic val
nc, she was also enabled. by sacrificing the
jewel in question, TO crafty her softer feel
lngS, by the conviction. that as this was a
decoration worn inditcrcntly by both sexes.
buckingham would be reminded of her
whenever it formed portion of his dress.
On the morrow, Anne of Austria took
leave OF the English envoy in presence Of
all the court. and his bearing was that of a
finished gentleman and n respectful courtier.
No eye could detect glance. no ear gather
. mp sentence, which was not in accordance
with the most ScrupulouS etiquette. Buck
Ingham carried away with him pledge Of
royal regard which almost consuled him for
ms departure Meanwhile Madame de
Dannoy, the Jealous spy of the cardinal,
had detected the disappearance Of the dia-
mpnd alguilette from the queens caSkct
and, with the ready perception of malice.
she suggested TO Richeiicu that II had. in all
probability, been sent 10 Buckingham, Us a
parting prCScnt.-Ihc cardinal lost NOT an
instant in writing 10 one Of the ladies' Of
Charles court who was in his Intersection.
Ike the spider, he attached his web on every
side offering TO present her 5000 livrcs if
she could succeed in cutting away couple
/ ot the tags Of the Shoulder-knot the first
time buckingham appeared in IT, and for
warding them forthwith by safe mcSscn-
ger TO himself.
\ fortnight afterwards, the two tags were
IN the possession Of Richelieu. The duke
had worn the aiguiIlcuc n, n state ball. and
the cmiSSary Of the cardinal had cut away
couple OF ITS pcndcnts unobSorved. The
Nlhdicuve minister gloa'cd over his prize
Now, rs he believed, his revenge was GER
tain.
/ The first care of Richelicu was to cary
me diamonds TO the king. and to acquant
jnmwith the method by which they had
hcen procured. Louis examined them
closely. There could BE no doubt that they
had indeed formed a portion of the orna-
lheht which had been his last present 10 his
wife; his pale brow flushed with indignant
rage. and before the cardinal left the
royal closet, every precaution was taken
/ 10 insure the speedy exposure of the
Queen.
oh the following morning. Louis himself
announced TO Anne of Austria that ball,
gwen by civil magistrates of Paris, at the
town hall. would take place the day of but
one iollowinii: and he coupled this Informal
ion with the request that, in order to com
pIlmcnt both himself and the magistrates,
she would appear in the aigullcttc which
he had lately presented TO her. She re-
Piled simply and calmly that he should be
obcyed.
The eight-and- hours which were
SUI TO intervene before his vengeance could
be accomplished, appeared so many c6ntu-
RES TO the cardinal duke.-Anne of Austria
was now fairly in the tolls and still her
compoSurc remained unruilled. How was
tins apparent tranquility to be explained?
/ kchelteu had already experienced that
AIDED by Buckingham and Madame dc
| .hcVrcuSc, she had possessed the power TO
Daille even his ingenuity but she now
stood alone and even had she vcnturcd
upon so dangerous step as that of rcplac-
ing the jewels, he well knew that on the
present occasion she possessed neither the
time nor the means.
The hour Of the festival at length struck 4;
ana as 1t had been arranged that the king
should first make his entrance inthc room,
accompanied by his minister. and that the
queen should follow. attended by her own
court. Richclieu was enabled TO calculate
upon commencing his triumph from the
very moment of her appearance ON the
threshold.
Precisely at an hour before midnight. the
queen was announced. and every eye ut
once turned eagerly towards her. She was
magnificent alike in lovclneSs aud apparel.
she wore Spanish costume, consisting OF
a dress of green satin embroidered with
gold and silver, having hanging sleeves,
which were loopcd back with large rubicS,
serving rs buttons. Her ruff was open, and
displayed her bosom, which was extreme
~ beautiful and upon her head she had n
small cap Of green velvet. snrmountcd by n
heron feather: while from her shoulder de-
pended gracefully the aiguillcttc. with its
twelve diamond tags.
As she entered the king approached her
-ovowedly to offer his compliments upon
her appearance, but actually to count the
tags. His arithmetic amounted to n dozen.
The cardinal stood pace behind him. quiv-
ering with rage. The twelve tags were
hanging from the shoulder of the queen.
and, nevertheless, he graspcd two of them
in his hand at tho same moment. Aye, in
his hand; for he had resolved not to loose
an instant in triumphng over the proud aud
! insolcnt beauty who had laughed his passion
TO scorn. and made him mark for the ridi-
culc of his associates. The vow tina, he
uttered in his heart, rs he ga2cd upon her
calm and dcfying brow that night, probably
cost Buckingham his life for Richclicu was
not duped by the belief that the shoulder.
knot of the duke from whence his own