the memoirs of marie antoinette-第41章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The moment the Cardinal's arrest was known a universal clamour arose。 Every memorial that appeared during the trial increased the outcry。 On this occasion the clergy took that course which a little wisdom and the least knowledge of the spirit of such a body ought to have foreseen。 The Rohans and the House of Conde； as well as the clergy； made their complaints heard everywhere。 The King consented to having a legal judgment； and early in September he addressed letters…patent to the Parliament； in which he said that he was 〃filled with the most just indignation on seeing the means which； by the confession of his Eminence the Cardinal； had been employed in order to inculpate his most dear spouse and companion。〃
Fatal moment！ in which the Queen found herself； in consequence of this highly impolitic step； on trial with a subject； who ought to have been dealt with by the power of the King alone。 The Princes and Princesses of the House of Conde； and of the Houses of Rohan； Soubise； and Guemenee； put on mourning； and were seen ranged in the way of the members of the Grand Chamber to salute them as they proceeded to the palace； on the days of the Cardinal's trial； and Princes of the blood openly canvassed against the Queen of France。
The Pope wished to claim； on behalf of the Cardinal de Rohan； the right belonging to his ecclesiastical rank； and demanded that he should be judged at Rome。 The Cardinal de Bernis； ambassador from France to his Holiness； formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs； blending the wisdom of an old diplomatist with the principles of a Prince of the Church； wished that this scandalous affair should be hushed up。 The King's aunts； who were on very intimate terms with the ambassador； adopted his opinion； and the conduct of the King and Queen was equally and loudly censured in the apartments of Versailles and in the hotels and coffee…houses of Paris。
Madame； the King's sister…in…law； had been the sole protectress of De Lamotte； and had confined her patronage to granting her a pension of twelve to fifteen hundred francs。 Her brother was in the navy； but the Marquis de Chabert； to whom he had been recommended； could never train a good officer。 The Queen in vain endeavoured to call to mind the features of this person； of whom she had often heard as an intriguing woman； who came frequently on Sundays to the gallery of Versailles。 At the time when all France was engrossed by the persecution against the Cardinal； the portrait of the Comtesse de Lamotte Valois was publicly sold。 Her Majesty desired me one day； when I was going to Paris； to buy her the engraving； which was said to be a tolerable likeness； that she might ascertain whether she could recognise in it any person whom she might have seen in the gallery。
＇The public； with the exception of the lowest class； were admitted into the gallery and larger apartments of Versailles； as they were into the park。MADAME CAMPAN。＇
The woman De Lamotte's father was a peasant at Auteuil； though he called himself Valois。 Madame de Boulainvilliers once saw from her terrace two pretty little peasant girls； each labouring under a heavy bundle of sticks。 The priest of the village； who was walking with her； told her that the children possessed some curious papers； and that he had no doubt they were descendants of a Valois； an illegitimate son of one of the princes of that name。
The family of Valois had long ceased to appear in the world。 Hereditary vices had gradually plunged them into the deepest misery。 I have heard that the last Valois then known occupied the estate called Gros Bois； that as he seldom came to Court； Louis XIII。 asked him what he was about that he remained so constantly in the country； and that this M。 de Valois merely answered； 〃Sire； I only do there what I ought。〃 It was shortly afterwards discovered that he was coining。
Neither the Queen herself nor any one near her ever had the slightest connection with the woman De Lamotte； and during her prosecution she could point out but one of the Queen's servants； named Desclos； a valet of the Queen's bedchamber； to whom she pre tended she had delivered Boehmer's necklace。 This Desclos was a very honest man； upon being confronted with the woman De Lamotte； it was proved that she had never seen him but once； which was at the house of the wife of a surgeon… accoucheur at Versailles； the only person she visited at Court； and that she had not given him the necklace。 Madame de Lamotte married a private in Monsieur's body…guard； she lodged at Versailles at the Belle Image； a very inferior furnished house； and it is inconceivable how so obscure a person could succeed in making herself believed to be a friend of the Queen； who； though so extremely affable； seldom granted audiences； and only to titled persons。
The trial of the Cardinal is too generally known to require me to repeat its details here。 The point most embarrassing to him was the interview he had in February； 1785； with M。 de Saint…James； to whom he confided the particulars of the Queen's pretended commission； and showed the contract approved and signed Marie Antoinette de France。 The memorandum found in a drawer of the Cardinal's bureau； in which he had himself written what Baehmer told him after having seen me at my country house； was likewise an unfortunate document for his Eminence。
I offered to the King to go and declare that Baehmer had told me that the Cardinal assured him he had received from the Queen's own hand the thirty thousand francs given on account upon the bargain being concluded； and that his Eminence had seen her Majesty take that sum in bills from the porcelain secretaire in her boudoir。 The King declined my offer； and said to me； 〃Were you alone when Boehmer told you this？〃 I answered that I was alone with him in my garden。 〃Well；〃 resumed he； 〃the man would deny the fact； he is now sure of being paid his sixteen hundred thousand francs； which the Cardinal's family will find it necessary to make good to him； we can no longer rely upon his sincerity； it would look as if you were sent by the Queen； and that would not be proper。〃
＇The guilty woman no sooner knew that all was about to be discovered than she sent for the jewellers； and told them the Cardinal had perceived that the agreement； which he believed to have been signed by the Queen； was a false and forged document。 〃However；〃 added she； 〃the Cardinal possesses a considerable fortune； and he can very well pay you。〃 These words reveal the whole secret。 The Countess had taken the necklace to herself； and flattered herself that M。 de Rohan； seeing himself deceived and cruelly imposed upon； would determine to pay and make the beat terms he could； rather than suffer a matter of this nature to become public。…〃Secret Correspondence of the Court of Louis XVI。〃＇
The procureur general's information was severe on the Cardinal。 The Houses of Conde and Rohan and the majority of the nobility saw in this affair only an attack on the Prince's rank； the clergy only a blow aimed at the privileges of a cardinal。 The clergy demanded that the unfortunate business of the Prince Cardinal de Rohan should be submitted to ecclesiastical jurisdiction； and the Archbishop of Narbonne； then President of the Convocation； made representations upon the subject to the King； the bishops wrote to his Majesty to remind him that a private ecclesiastic implicated in the affair then pending would have a right to claim his constitutional judges； and that this right was refused to a cardinal； his superior in the hierarchical order。 In short； the clergy and the greater part of the nobility were at that time outrageous against authority； and chiefly against the Queen。
The procureur…general's conclusions； and those of a part of the heads of the magistracy； were as severe towards the Cardinal as the information had been； yet he was fully acquitted by a majority of three voices； the woman De Lamotte was condemned to be whipped； branded； and imprisoned； and her husband； for contumacy； was condemned to the galleys for life。
＇The following extract is from the 〃 Memoirs〃 of the Abbe Georgel： 〃The sittings were long and multiplied； it was necessary to read the whole proceedings； more than fifty judges sat； a master of requests； a friend of the Prince； wrote down all that was said there； and sent it to his advisers； who found means to inform the Cardinal of it； and to add the plan of conduct he ought to pursue。〃 D'Epremesnil； and other young counsellors； showed upon that occasion but too much audacity in braving the Court； too much eagerness in seizing an opportunity of attacking it。 They were the first to shake that authority which their functions made it a duty in them to respect。… NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
M。 Pierre de Laurencel； the procureur general's substitute； sent the Queen a list of the names of the members of the Grand Chamber； with the means made use of by the friends of the Cardinal to gain their votes during the trial。 I had this list to keep among the papers which the Queen deposited in the house of M。 Campan； my father…in…law； and which； at his death； she ordered me to preserve。 I burnt this statement； but I remember ladies performed a part not very creditable to their principles； it was by them； in consideration of large sums which they received； that some of the oldest and most respected members were won over。 I did not see a single name amongst the whole Parliament that was gained directly。
The belief confirmed by time is； that the Cardinal was completely duped by the woman De Lamotte and Cagliostro。 The King may have been in error in thinking him an accomplice in this miserable and criminal scheme； but I have faithfully repeated his Majesty's judgment about it。
However； the generally received opinion that the Baron de Breteuil's hatred for the Cardinal was the cause of the scandal and the unfortunate result of this affair contributed to the disgrace of the former still more than his refusal to give his granddaughter in marriage to the son of the Duc de Polignac。 The Abbe de Vermond threw the whole blame of the imprudence and impolicy of the affair of the Cardinal de Rohan upon the minister； and ceased to be the friend and supporter of the Baron de Breteuil with the Queen。
In the early part of the year 1786； the Cardinal； as has been said； was fully acquitted； and came out of the Bastille； while Madame de Lamotte was condemned to be whipped； branded； and imprisoned。 The Court； persisting in the erroneous views which had hitherto guided its measures； conceived that the Cardinal and the woman De Lamotte were equally culpable and unequally punished； and sought to restore the balance of justice by exiling the Cardinal to La Chaise…Dieu； and suffering Madame de Lamotte to escape a few days after she entered l'Hopital。 This new error confirmed the Parisians in the idea that the wretch De Lamotte； who had never been able to make her way so far as to the room appropriated to the Queen's women； had really interested the Queen herself。
＇Further particulars will be found in the 〃Memoirs of the Comte de Beugnot〃 （London： Hurst & Blackett； 1871）； as
