Madam de Chartres immediately perceived the true reason, why her

daughter refused to go to the ball; and to prevent the Duke de Nemours

discovering it, as well as herself, she took up the discourse after a

manner that gave what she said an air of truth.

"I assure you, Madam," said she to the Queen-Dauphin, "that your

Majesty has done my daughter more honour than she deserves; she was

really indisposed, but I believe, if I had not hindered her, she would

not have failed to wait on you, and to show herself under any

disadvantages, for the pleasure of seeing what there was extraordinary

at yesterday's entertainment." The Queen-Dauphin gave credit to what

Madam de Chartres said but the Duke de Nemours was sorry to find so

much probability in it nevertheless, the blushes of the Princess of

Cleves made him suspect, that what the Queen-Dauphin had said was not

altogether false. The Princess of Cleves at first was concerned the

Duke had any room to believe it was he who had hindered her from going

to the Mareschal de St. Andre; but afterwards she was a little

chagrined that her mother had entirely taken off the suspicion of it.

Though the Congress of Cercamp had been broken off, the negotiations

for the peace were continued, and things were so disposed, that towards

the latter end of February the conferences were reassumed at

Chateau-Cambresis; the same plenipotentiaries were sent as before, and

the Mareschal de St. Andre being one, his absence freed the Duke de

Nemours from a rival, who was formidable rather from his curiosity in

observing those who addressed to Madam de Cleves, than from any

advances he was capable of making himself in her favour.

Madam de Chartres was not willing to let her daughter see that she knew

her sentiments for the Duke, for fear of making herself suspected in

some things which she was very desirous to tell her.

One day she set herself to talk about him, and a great deal of good she

said of him, but mixed with it abundance of sham praises, as the

prudence he showed in never falling in love, and how wise he was to

make the affair of women and love an amusement instead of a serious

business: "It is not," added she, "that he is not suspected to have a

very uncommon passion for the Queen-Dauphin; I observe he visits her

very often; and I advise you to avoid, as much as possible, speaking to

him, and especially in private; because, since the Queen-Dauphin treats

you as she does, it would be said, that you are their confidant; and

you know how disagreeable that sort of reputation is: I'm of opinion,

if this report continues, that you should not visit the Queen-Dauphin

so often, in order to avoid involving yourself in adventures of

gallantry."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024