Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-17

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Queen Marie Antoinettes disfavor. His
troubles had, begun when that hapess
Queen merciessly snubbed him at court
and he was willing to- pay any price for
restoration to her favor. His plight was
one which naturally opened up fertile
field for blackmalers and that class of ad-
venturers who take advantage of persons
in trouble Cagliostro, the celebrated magi-
clan, in return for a substantial fee. assured
the Cardinal that he had used his mystic
powers to regain the Queens good will.
Another agent employed by De Roha- to
obtain her Majestys forgiveness was The
Countess de Ia Motto a cousin of the King.
Coming to him with the claim that she
could effect reconciliation, the Countess
had obtained various sums of money from
him for that purpose.
The former King, the dissolute Louis XIV,
had ordered for his mistress, the Countess
du Barry. a diamond necklace, valued at a
third of n million dollars, but had died be-
fore it had been finished by the jewelers.
1t later changed hands several times and
eventually fell into the possession of n
Paris firm of jewelers.. who about the time
OF the Cardinals employment of the Count
esS de la Motto were attempting to sell 1t
to the Queen. But Marie Antoinette re-
iected It, stating that it was ugly and not
to her taste While the jewelers. were nurs-
ing their disappointment the Countess de
la Motto entered their establishment and
informed them that Marie Antoinette in
reality wanted the diamond necklace very
badly and hestated to take it openly be-
cause she feared that tho purchase would
further embtter the common people, who
were already railing against her extravas
gance. The Countess, according to her own
story had been appointed as the Queens
secret agent to negotiate the purchase and
leaving the jewelers. shop. she went
straightway to Cardinal de Rohan telling
him the story and assuring hin, hot
his favor with the Queen would surely be
restored IL he would covertly arrange to
order the necklace for her, it being agreed
that Marie Antoinette should remit for il
In four quarterly payments. The Cardinal
jumped at the opportunity and in his pres
ence the jewelers. delivered the necklace to
the Countess, who turned it over to a man
who, the Cardinal was given to under
stand, was a secret messenger from the
Queen.
The Cardinal was soon afterward shown
by the Countess number of letters al
legged to be from the Queen and greatly
complimenting him. Shortly afterward, tn,
Countess delighted him greatly by stating
that the Queen desired to meet him secretly
In grove on a certain night. The Cardinal
proceeded to the place mentioned and there
met heavily cloaked figure, who presented
him with rose and whispered:
you may hope that the past is forgot
ten."
But in spite Of all this evidence that the
Countess had, in truth, bought for him the
queens favor with the generous funds that
he had given to her, De Rohans troubles
now began to multiply He anxiouslv
awaited the Queens appearance wearing
the necklace, but noted with alarm that
she never adorned herself with it, Nor
did she relax from her cold demeanor
toward him at court nor were his fortunes
advanced In any way. Worst of all the
promised quarterly remittances for the dia
mond necklace We're not Forthcoming from
her Majesty. Entering the palace chanel
one morning. clothed in his full regaIia'
and prepared to say high mass, Rohap was
apprehended by the King. 1t appeared that
the jewellers, tired of waiting for the
money, had commenced to dun the Queen
directly, and that she had referred the hill
to the King, protesting her Ignorance of
the charge. The Cardinal made a clean
breast OF the whole matter to the King
and Marie Antoinette, hearing the con.
fesslon. flew into rage. branding the
Cardinal as a scoundrel Poor De Roban
realizing that he had been duped by some
one. offered to pay for the necklace OUT az
his own pocket. but the Queen demanded
his arrest. and the King signed the war
rant -
His trial before Parliament lasted for
nine months and stirred all France Tn.
revelations OF court intrigue and extrava-
rance which II brought forth hastsnsd ths
&nlgn q Terror. Those who heard. tke evi-
covle rsx>e eGree - a. .Nho<her ~