The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-12-03
Story Of a Diamond Necklace.

the height of her power, holding in
chains vicious king, Louis XIV. or
dered for her necklace of diamonds.
BONNER and Bassenge, the jewelers.,
hunted the world through for gems
worthy to be wrought into a necklace
for the favorite of king. Before the
necklace was ready. for delivery the
king died. and the jewelers. found them
selves burdened with heavy debt in
Cured in purchasing the diamonds.
They made an effort to sell the gilt
tering and costly bauble to the youthful
Marie Antoinette, but the queen de-
clined to purchase. The finances of
the country did not allow of so great
an expenditure on an article which,
however beautiful, was by no means nee
qssary to the queen. 1t was offered to
the various European courts, but they
were not willing to pay $500, 900 for a
diamond necklace, however precious the
tones might be. For ten years the
jewelers. persisted in Offering the neck
lace to the queen, until she grew weary
Of the persecution. Thinking that they
saw their opportunity when the dauphin
was born. again they appeared at the
palace with the necklace. and the king
taking it, offered it to the queen, and
was astonished at the warmth of her
words when she rejected the gift. So
the jewelers. still had the unlucky neck
lace on their unwilling hands.
There was plot brewing which, if
successful, would relieve the jewellers of
the now obnoxious necklace, but which
would not place it within the hands of
royalty. It was plot wond con-
trved and wonderfully carried out, the
chief conspirator, d woman, showing re-
markable fertility of resource, uncom-
mon audacity, and great recklessness of
consequences.
This woman, the Countess de la
Motto, was descended in an irregular
way from Henry II. of Valois. The
Saint Remi family, however, had been
reduced through poverty to the lowest
extreme of degradation; and, however
their exalted lineage, they had lost all
traces of their royal pedigree.
When we are first introduced to the
wickedhcountess she is begging on the
roadside with her little sister on her
back, she herself child of tender
years. Deserted by her unnatural
mother these little ones had to take
care OF themselves, and perhaps the
cunning for which the willy countess
was distinguished had been acquired
during her vagrant career.
It was fortunate day for Ter when,
running beside the carriage of the Mar
chioness de Boulainvilliers, she cried:
"Pray take pity on two orphans, de-
scended from Henry II. of Valois, king
Of France" Such an appeal was likely
to attract attention, as itwas unusual
to see the members of royal family 70
duced to such a plight. The marchioness
inquired into the girls story, and find
ing that her lineage could be traced.
even though remotely and irregularly,
toa king of France, she sent for the
children to her chateau and befriended
them. Every educational advantage
was given them, and by persistent eff
forts she had their claim to royal de-
scent acknowledged, and a pension of
$3.50 year settled on each of the three
children-for there was boy also. The
little beggar-girl was now known as
Mademoiselle Valols; and after she had
completed her education she went to
Bar-Sur- Aube, the place of her birth.
Here she encountered NJ. de la Motto,
an officer in the gendarmes, and married
him.
Even at this early age her moral
character was not above suspicion, and
it is clear that she was utterly deficient
in self-respect and in proper principle.
Full of pretense and of ambitious as.
pirations, she thought that daughter
of the house of Valois should support a
certain style. Neither her husband nor
herself had the means to keep up dis
play, or even moderately genteel APP.
pearance, and like many other weak
minded people under similar circum.
stances, they began to borrow, beg and
steal. She now assumed the title OF
countess and her husband that of count.
Fancying that she was kept out of hel
ancestral estate, she fairly besieged all
who she thought could be of service in
pushing her claims
Having been, unfortunately for him,
introduced to the Cardinal de Rohan,
grand almoner of France, she prepared
to secure him in her tolls. He was moi