to speak, for her signature, and to leave a rear door open for
herself, through which she could slip with her exalted name, in case
the affair was discovered, and leave me to be her bete de
souffrance. But I am by no means disposed to accept this part, for I
declare here solemnly, before God and man, that I am innocent of the
crime laid to my charge. I was only a too true and devoted friend,
that is all! I sacrificed my own safety and peace to the welfare of
my exalted friends, and I now complain of them that they have
treated me unthankfully in this matter. But they must bear the
blame, they alone. Let the queen show that she did not give the
cardinal a rendezvous in the park of Versailles; let her further
show that she did not sign the promissory note, and the letters to
his eminence, and then I shall be exposed to the charge of being a
deceiver and a traitor. But so long as this is not done--and it
cannot be done, for God is just, and will not permit the innocent to
suffer for the guilty--so long will all France, yes, all Europe, be
convinced that the queen is the guilty one; that she received the
jewels, and paid the cardinal for them as a coquette and light-
minded woman does, with tender words, with smiles and loving looks,
and, last of all, with a rendezvous!"

"You are right," said the attorney-general, as the countess ceased,
and looked around her with a victorious smile--"you are quite right,
God IS just, and He will not permit the innocent to suffer for the
guilty. He will not let your infernal intrigue stand as truth; He
will tear away the mask of innocence from your deceiver's face, and
lot you stand forth in all your impudence and deception."

"My lord," cried the countess, smiling, "those are very high-
sounding words, but they are no proofs."