Bohmer, some time since had the honor to offer to your majesty?"

"Certainly, I remember it," answered the king, quickly nodding. "The
queen showed herself on that occasion just as unselfish and
magnanimous as she always is. It was told me that her majesty had
very much admired the necklace which Bohmer had showed to her, and
yet had declined to purchase it, because it seemed to her too dear.
I wanted to buy it and have the pleasure of offering it to the
queen, but she decisively refused it."

"We well remember the beautiful answer which her majesty gave to her
husband," said Breteuil, gently bowing. "All Paris repeated with
delight the words which her majesty uttered: 'Sir, we have more
diamonds than ships. Buy a ship with this money!'" [Footnote:
"Correspondence Secrete de la Cour de Louis XVI."]

"You have a good memory," said the king, "for it is five years since
this happened. Bohmer has twice made the attempt since then to sell
this costly necklace to me, but I have dismissed him, and at last
forbidden him to allude to the matter again."

"I believe that he has, meanwhile, ventured to trouble the queen
several times about the necklace. It appears that he had almost
persuaded himself that your majesty would purchase it. Years ago he
caused stones to be selected through all Europe, wishing to make a
necklace of diamonds which should be alike large, heavy, and
brilliant. The queen refusing to give him his price of two million
francs, he offered it at last for one million eight hundred
thousand."