M.  LE  CARDINAL  DE  ROHAN  received,  two  days  after  his
visit  to  M.  Boehmer,  the  following  note  :

"  His  Eminence  the  Cardinal  de  Rohan  knows,  doubt-
less, where  he  will  sup  this  evening."

"  From  the  little  countess,"  said  he  ;  "I  will  go."

Among  the  footmen  given  to  her  by  the  cardinal,  Jeanne
had  -distinguished  one,  black-haired  and  dark-eyed,  and,
as  she  thought,  active  and  intelligent.  She  set  this  man
to  watch  the  cardinal,  and  learned  from  him  that  he  had
been  twice  to  M.  Boehmer's.  Therefore  she  concluded
the  necklace  was  bought,  and  yet  he  had  not  communi-
cated it  to  her.  She  frowned  at  the  thought,  and  wrote
the  note  which  we  have  seen.
M.  de  Rohan  sent  before  him  a  basket  of  Tokay  and
other  rarities,  just  as  if  he  was  going  to  sup  with  La
Guimard  or  Mademoiselle  Dangeville.  Jeanne  deter-
mined not  to  use  any  of  it  at  supper.
When  they  were  alone,  she  said  to  him  :

"  Really,  monseigneur,  one  thing  afflicts  me."

"  What,  countess  ?  "

"To  see,  not  only  that  you  no  longer  love  me,  but  that
you  never  have  loved  me."

"Oh,  countess  !  how  can  you  say  so  ? "

"  Do  not  make  excuses,  moiiseigneur  ;  it  would  be  lost
time."

"  Oh,  countess  ! "

"  Do  not  be  uneasy  ;  I  am  quite  indifferent  about  it
now."

"  Whether  I  love  you  or  not  ?  "

"  Yes,  because  I  do  not  love  you."

"  That  is  not  flattering."


272  THE  QUEEN'S  NECKLACE.
