been duped, we
must believe the unbelievable."

Thus at a blow she shattered the fond hopes he had been cherishing ever
since the night of gems--of gems, forsooth!--in the Grove of Venus; thus
she laid his ambition in ruins about him, and left the man himself half
stunned.

Observing his disorder, the ponderous but kindly monarch rose.

"Come, my cousin," he said more gently, "collect yourself. Sit down here
and write what you may have to say in answer."

And with that he passed into the library beyond, accompanied by the
Queen and the two Ministers.

Alone, Rohan staggered forward and sank nervelessly into the chair. He
took up a pen, pondered a moment, and began to write. But he did not
yet see clear. He could not yet grasp the extent to which he had been
deceived, could not yet believe that those treasured notes from Marie
Antoinette were forgeries, that it was not the Queen who had met him in
the Grove of Venus and given him the rose whose faded petals kept those
letters company in a portfolio of red morocco. But at least it was clear
to him that, for the sake of honour--the Queen's honour--he must assume
it so; and in that assumption he now penned his statement.

When it was completed, himself he bore it to the King in the library.

Louis read it with frowning brows; then passed it to the Queen.

"Have you the necklace now?" he asked Rohan.

"Sir, I left it in the hands of this woman Valois."

"Where is this woman?"

"I do not know, Sire."

"And the letter of authority bearing the Queen's signature, which the
jewellers say you presented to them--where is that?"

"I have it, Sire. I will place it before you. It is only now that I
realize that it is a forgery."

"Only now!" exclaimed the Queen in scorn.

"Her Majesty's name has been compromised," said the King sternly. "It
must be cleared. As King and as husband my duty is clear. Your Eminence
must submit to arrest."

Rohan fell back a step in stupefaction. For disgrace and dismissal he
was prepared, but not for this.

"Arrest?" he whispered. "Ah, wait, Sire. The publicity! The scandal!
Think of that! As for the necklace, I will pay for it myself, and so pay
for my credulous folly. I beseech you, Sire, to let the matter end here.
I implore it for my own sake, for the sake of the Prince de Soubise
and the name of Rohan, which would be smirched unjustly and to no good
purpose."

He spoke with warmth and force; and, without adding more, yet convey