bitions. To him it was a night of nights--a night of gems, he
pronounced it, looking up into the jewelled vault of heaven. And in that
phrase he was singularly prophetic.

By an avenue of boxwood and yoke-elm he entered into an open glade,
in the middle of which there was a circle where the intended statue of
Venus was never placed. But if the cold marble effigy of a goddess were
absent, the warm, living figure of a queen stood, all in shimmering
white amid the gloom, awaiting him.

Rohan checked a moment, his breath arrested, his pulses quickened. Then
he sped forward, and, flinging off his wide-brimmed hat, he prostrated
himself to kiss the hem of her white cambric gown. Something--a rose
that she let fall--brushed lightly past his cheek. Reverently he
recovered it, accounting it a tangible symbol of her favour, and
he looked up into the proud, lovely face--which, although but dimly
discernible, was yet unmistakable to him protesting his gratitude and
devotion. He perceived that she was trembling, and caught the quiver in
the voice that answered him.

"You may hope that the past will be forgiven."

And then, before he could drink more deeply of this cup of delight,
came rapid steps to interrupt them. A slender man, in whom the Cardinal
seemed to recognize the Queen's valet Desclaux, thrust through the
curtains of foliage into the grove.

"Quick, madame!" he exclaimed in agitation. "Madame la Comtesse and
Mademoiselle d'Artois are approaching!"

The Queen was whirled away, and the Cardinal discreetly effaced himself,
his happiness tempered by chagrin at the interruption.

When, on the morrow, the Countess of Valois brought him a blue-bordered
note with Her Majesty's wishes that he should patiently await a
propitious season for his public restoration to royal favour, he
resigned himself with the most complete and satisfied submission. Had
he not the memory of her voice and the rose she had given him? Soon
afterwards came a blue-bordered note in which Marie Antoinette advised
him to withdraw to his Bishopric of Strasbourg until she should judge
that the desired season of his reinstatement had arrived.

Obediently Rohan withdrew.

It was in the following December that the Countess of Valois's good
offices at Court were solicited by a new client, and that she first
beheld the famous diamond necklace.

It had been made by the Court jewellers of the Rue Vendome--Bohmer and
Bassenge--and intended for the Countes