The affair of the Diamond Necklace is familiar to readers of history and romance. It attracted the perceptive mind of Dumas who moulded it into an interesting story, but of its reality no doubt has ever been entertained. The Prince Cardinal de Rohan, having entertained a secret affection for Queen Marie Antoinette, the Countess de Lamotte to forward her own nefarious designs persuaded him that the Queen reciprocated his passion. By thus working on the Cardinal’s feelings, Madame de Lamotte managed to relieve him of some sums of money, and succeeding so well in this way, she and her husband resolved on a more imposing venture. Louis XV had had made a wonderful diamond necklace which he intended as a present for his favorite Madame Du Barry. Before it was finished Louis had passed away, and his favourite had been driven from court. The necklace which was made by Boehmer consisted of 500 magnificent diamonds, the whole when completed being valued at 1,800,000 livres. Madame de Lamotte represented to the Cardinal the Queen’s desire for this handsome necklace, asking him as Her Majesty was at the time unable to pay the amount of the purchase money, which she said amounted to £700,000 sterling, to become security for her for this amount. This he gladly consented to do, and added his name to the forged signature of the Queen. On February 1st, 1786, the Cardinal carried the precious jewel to Versailles, whence by arrangement a messenger from the Queen was to take it. The next day, as arranged by Madame de Lamotte’s husband, an accomplice dressed in the uniform of a court official entered the Cardinal’s apartments at Versailles and muttering several times “De par la Reine” (in the Queen’s name) relieved the trusting Cardinal of the necklace. It was afterwards broken up and disposed of by these three conspirators, in England it is believed. Some time afterwards Boehmer, not receiving his payment, applied to Marie Antoinette for his money. She denied all knowledge of the affair. Boehmer thereupon brought the case before the Parlement de Paris in 1785, and in May, 1786, after a trial of 9 months, the Cardinal, Monsieur de Lamotte and his accomplice were acquitted, but Madame de Lamotte was sent to prison for life, each shoulder being branded with the letter V (Voleuse, thief).