Acting on the hint given by Pope, Lady Mary purchased stock for herself and Remond.
The stock fell rapidly--in August it stood at 750 and in December at 130.

What she lost is not known, but she had been sufficiently involved to make her desire to sell her diamonds, and more than once she asked Lady Mar if there was a market for the jewels in Paris.

Remond's L900 had dwindled to L400.

On receiving these distressful tidings, the Frenchman believed, or affected to believe, that he had been swindled, and he threatened, unless he were repaid in full, he would publish Lady Mary's letters to him.

Lady Mary's fear was lest the matter should come to the cognisance of her husband: it would certainly be unfair to Montagu to suggest that he might not have forgiven his wife for a love-affair; but he would certainly never have pardoned her any transaction that cost him money.
Many malicious things were said about this business.