The Washington times., 1920-08-08

Countess Jeanne de Ia Motto wife of an impecunous
nobeman of low rank sufficiently beautiful and lax
to obtain for herself questionable position court She
clever she unconventional in her behavior.
She it who betame curious at a certain light the
eyes of Cardinal Rohan when that dgnary paid his daily
respects to the Queen.
The Countess knew the Cardinal S weaknesses and
played upon them. He was the Grand Amoner" the
dispenser of huge funds and he himself rich-accus
toned pay we'll for his diversions She put herself IN
the Cardinals way and accepted the advances she knew
he would inevitably make. Her complaissncy was new
for the Cardinal and he made the most of #
After short time the Countess ardor seemingly
began to The Cardinal reproachcd her In the
midst of his avowalsstereotyped avowals he used SO
often they recitasshe interrupted him to say
that he could not impose upon her. that she knew his Sc
cre and more she had learned that which would make II
nothing less than ese majesty for her to continue accept
ing his attentions.
The Cardinal much disturbed and curious Then
the Countess drove in the opening wedge of clever
scheme She lied to him that she had been fortunate
enough to become condante of the Queen that Marie
had admitted IN burst of confidence that she had Scned
personal devotion in the gances which the Cardinal had
bestowed upon her, and that her heart had futtered
the realization.
Rohan could not believe his ears "If were not
true" asked the Countess, do you suppose would be
lightly throwing aside the favor Your Emnence has be-
slowed especially when TO lose that favor to
rob myself of the greatest JOY that has into my 6fe
The Cardinals vanity allowed no answer to this
pquant argument other than complete belief that what
the Countess said was true. And one may gne his
eaton when the Countess further conded that there still
was more for her to tell him. The Queen asked my ad-
vice about the dangers there would lie in her writing
You note by her own hand told her the danger
great and that determined her She declared danger
was the spice of love- and that within the fortnight she
would send Your Eminence, by my own humble hand,
written testimonial of her regard"
The Countess used the fortnight in pcrfecting her
plans She warned the Cardinal he must not display
even were he with the Queen herself any know
edge that he had discovered the state Of affairs with
the Queens heart "Our Queen is proud you know and
must be cautious she wants flush her face
Tor shrewd waiting woman to detect mark of Your
Emmenee's presence the Countess said
In the meantime la Motto took into confederacy with
her disfeputabl6 soldier Retaux de Viette who was
known as gifted penman. At la Motto dictation Vii
lette wrote letter addressed to MY Dear Heart the
Countess de la Motte filled with expressions of royal
confidence and enthusiastic appraisas of my adorable
friend, the fascinating Cardinal" Convey TO him, my
dear friend, paragraph said "such expression you
VIII OF the high regard have feel for his dignity
his generoses, his nobleness Of character, and-yesl
and his own dear self" When he had written all this
Villette signed the letter boldly with flourish Marie
Antoinette de France"
La Motto took her precious forgery to Rohan-the