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sed them； by the Queen's orders； to one of her women； my aunt； Madame Cardon；a widow living at Arras； by virtue of an unlimited leave of absence；in order that she might be ready to start for Brussels； or any other place； as soon as she should be directed to do so。 This lady had landed property in Austrian Flanders； and could at any time quit Arras unobserved。
The Queen was to take only her first woman in attendance with her from Paris。 She apprised me that if I should not be on duty at the moment of departure； she would make arrangements for my joining her。 She determined also to take her travelling dressing…case。 She consulted me on her idea of sending it off； under pretence of making a present of it to the Archduchess Christina； Gouvernante of the Netherlands。 I ventured to oppose this plan strongly； and observed that； amidst so many people who watched her slightest actions； there would be found a sufficient number sharp…sighted enough to discover that it was only a pretext for sending away the property in question before her own departure； she persisted in her intention； and all I could arrange was that the dressing…case should not be removed from her apartment； and that M。 de charge d'afaires from the Court of Vienna during the absence of the Comte de Mercy； should come and ask her； at her toilet； before all her people； to order one exactly like her own for Madame the Gouvernante of the Netherlands。 The Queen； therefore； commanded me before the charge d'affaires to order the article in question。 This occasioned only an expense of five hundred louis； and appeared calculated to lull suspicion completely。
About the middle of May； 1791； a month after the Queen had ordered me to bespeak the dressing…case； she asked me whether it would soon be finished。 I sent for the ivory…turner who had it in hand。 He could not complete it for six weeks。 I informed the Queen of this； and she told me she should not be able to wait for it； as she was to set out in the course of June。 She added that； as she had ordered her sister's dressing…case in the presence of all her attendants； she had taken a sufficient precaution； especially by saying that her sister was out of patience at not receiving it； and that therefore her own must be emptied and cleaned； and taken to the charge d'affaires； who would send it off。 I executed this order without any； appearance of mystery。 I desired the wardrobe woman to take out of the dressing…case all that it contained； because that intended for the Archduchess could not be finished for some time； and to take great care to leave no remains of the perfumes which might not suit that Princess。
The woman in question executed her commission punctually； but； on the evening of that very day； the 15th of May； 1791； she informed M。 Bailly； the Mayor of Paris； that preparations were making at the Queen's residence for a departure； and that the dressing…case was already sent off； under pretence of its being presented to the Archduchess Christina。
＇After the return from Varennes M。 Bailly put this woman's deposition into the Queen's hands。MADAME CAMPAN。＇
It was necessary； likewise； to send off all the diamonds belonging to the Queen。 Her Majesty shut herself up with me in a closet in the entresol； looking into the garden of the Tuileries； and we packed all the diamonds； rubies； and pearls she possessed in a small chest。 The cases containing these ornaments； being altogether of considerable bulk； had been deposited； ever since the 6th of October； 1789； with the valet de chambre who had the care of the Queen's jewels。 That faithful servant； himself detecting the use that was to be made of the valuables； destroyed all the boxes； which were； as usual； covered with red morocco； marked with the cipher and arms of France。 It would have been impossible for him to hide them from the eyes of the popular inquisitors during the domiciliary visits in January； 1793； and the discovery might have formed a ground of accusation against the Queen。
I had but a few articles to place in the box when the Queen was compelled to desist from packing it； being obliged to go down to cards； which began at seven precisely。 She therefore desired me to leave all the diamonds upon the sofa； persuaded that； as she took the key of her closet herself； and there was a sentinel under the window； no danger was to be apprehended for that night； and she reckoned upon returning very early next day to finish the work。
The same woman who had given information of the sending away of the dressing…case was also deputed by the Queen to take care of her more private rooms。 No other servant was permitted to enter them； she renewed the flowers； swept the carpets； etc。 The Queen received back the key； when the woman had finished putting them in order； from her own hands； but； desirous of doing her duty well； and sometimes having the key in her possession for a few minutes only； she had probably on that account ordered one without the Queen's knowledge。 It is impossible not to believe this； since the despatch of the diamonds was the subject of a second accusation which the Queen heard of after the return from Varennes。 She made a formal declaration that her Majesty； with the assistance of Madame Campan； had packed up all her jewelry some time before the departure； that she was certain of it； as she had found the diamonds； and the cotton which served to wrap them； scattered upon the sofa in the Queen's closet in the 'entresol'； and most assuredly she could only have seen these preparations in the interval between seven in the evening and seven in the morning。 The Queen having met me next day at the time appointed； the box was handed over to Leonard； her Majesty's hairdresser；＇This unfortunate man； after having emigrated for some time； returned to France； and perished upon the scaffold。 …NOTE BY Tar EDIT016＇ who left the country with the Duc de Choiseul。 The box remained a long time at Brussels； and at length got into the hands of Madame la Duchesse d'Angouleme； being delivered to her by the Emperor on her arrival at Vienna。
In order not to leave out any of the Queen's diamonds； I requested the first tirewoman to give me the body of the full dress； and all the assortment which served for the stomacher of the full dress on days of state； articles which always remained at the wardrobe。
The superintendent and the dame d'honneur being absent； the first tirewoman required me to sign a receipt； the terms of which she dictated； and which acquitted her of all responsibility for these diamonds。 She had the prudence to burn this document on the 10th of August； 1792。 ＇The date of the sack of the Tuileries and slaughter of the Swiss Guard＇ The Queen having determined； upon the arrest at Varennes； not to have her diamonds brought back to France； was often anxious about them during the year which elapsed between that period and the 10th of August； and dreaded above all things that such a secret should be discovered。
In consequence of a decree of the Assembly； which deprived the King of the custody of the Crown diamonds； the Queen had at this time already given up those which she generally used。
She preferred the twelve brilliants called Hazarins； from the name of the Cardinal who had enriched the treasury with them； a few rose…cut diamonds； and the Sanci。 She determined to deliver； with her own hands； the box containing them to the commissioner nominated by the National Assembly to place them with the Crown diamonds。 After giving them to him； she offered him a row of pearls of great beauty； saying to him that it had been brought into France by Anne of Austria； that it was invaluable； on account of its rarity； that； having been appropriated by that Princess to the use of the Queens and Dauphinesses； Louis XV。 had placed it in her hands on her arrival in France； but that she considered it national property。 〃That is an open question； Madame；〃 said the commissary。 〃Monsieur；〃 replied the Queen； 〃it is one for me to decide； and is now settled。〃
My father…in…law； who was dying of the grief he felt for the misfortunes of his master and mistress； strongly interested and occupied the thoughts of the Queen。 He had been saved from the fury of the populace in the courtyard of the Tuileries。
On the day on which the King was compelled by an insurrection to give up a journey to St。 Cloud； her Majesty looked upon this trusty servant as inevitably lost； if； on going away； she should leave him in the apartment he occupied in the Tuileries。 Prompted by her apprehensions； she ordered M。 Vicq…d'Azyr； her physician； to recommend him the waters of Mont d'Or in Auvergne； and to persuade him to set off at the latter end of May。 At the moment of my going away the Queen assured me that the grand project would be executed between the 15th and the 20th of June； that as it was not my month to be on duty； Madame Thibaut would take the journey； but that she had many directions to give me before I went。 She then desired me to write to my aunt； Madame Cardon； who was by that time in possession of the clothes which I had ordered； that as soon as she should receive a letter from M。 Augur； the date of which should be accompanied with a B； an L； or an M； she was