After these reflections, he considered what measures he ought to take

to see her; he found he had no longer any reason to conceal his passion

from the Viscount de Chartres; he resolved to speak to him of it, and

to communicate to him his design with regard to his niece.

The Viscount was then at Paris, the town being extremely full, and

everybody busy in preparing equipages and dresses to attend the King of

Navarre, who was to conduct the Queen of Spain: Monsieur de Nemours,

went to the Viscount, and made an ingenuous confession to him of all he

had concealed hitherto, except Madam de Cleves's sentiments, which he

would not seem to know. The Viscount received what he told him with a great deal of pleasure,

and assured him, that though he was not acquainted with his sentiments

on that subject, he had often thought, since Madam de Cleves had been a

widow, that she was the only lady that deserved him. Monsieur de

Nemours entreated him to give him an opportunity of speaking to her,

and learning what disposition she was in.

The Viscount proposed to carry him to her house, but the Duke was of

opinion she would be shocked at it, because as yet she saw nobody; so

that they agreed, it would be better for the Viscount to ask her to

come to him, under some pretence, and for the Duke to come to them by a

private staircase, that he might not be observed. Accordingly this was

executed; Madam de Cleves came, the Viscount went to receive her, and

led her into a great closet at the end of his apartment; some time

after Monsieur de Nemours came in, as by chance: Madam de Cleves was

in great surprise to see him; she blushed and endeavoured to hide it;

the Viscount at first spoke of indifferent matters, and then went out,

as if he had some orders to give, telling Madam de Cleves he must

desire her to entertain the Duke in his stead, and that he would return

immediately.

It is impossible to express the sentiments of Monsieur de Nemours, and

Madam de Cleves, when they saw themselves alone, and at liberty to

speak to one another, as they had never been before: they continued

silent a while; at length, said Monsieur de Nemours, "Can you, Madam,

pardon the Viscount for giving me an opportunity of seeing you, and

speaking to you, an opportunity which you have always so cruelly denied

me?"

"I ought not to pardon him," replied she, "for having forgot the

condition I am in, and to what he exposes my reputation." Having spoke

these words, she would have gone away; but Monsieur de Nemours stopping

her, "Fear not, Madam," said he; "you have nothing to apprehend; nobody

knows I am here; hear me, Madam, hear me, if not out of goodness, yet

at least for your own sake, and to free yourself from the

extravagancies which a passion I am no longer master of will infallibly

hurry me into." Madam de Cleves now first yielded to the inclination

she had for the Duke de Nemours, and beholding him with eyes full of

softness and charms, "But what can you hope for," says she, "from the

complaisance you desire of me? You will perhaps repent that you have

obtained it, and I shall certainly repent that I have granted it. You

deserve a happier fortune than you have hitherto had, or than you can

have for the future, unless you seek it elsewhere." "I, Madam," said

he, "seek happiness anywhere else? Or is there any happiness for me,

but in your love? Though I never spoke of it before, I cannot believe,

Madam, that you are not acquainted with my passion, or that you do not

know it to be the greatest and most sincere that ever was; what trials

has it suffered in things you are a stranger to? What trials have you

put it to by your rigour?"




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