"You know the friendship, there is betwixt Sancerre and me.

Nevertheless about two years ago he fell in love with Madam de Tournon,

and concealed it from me with as much care as from the rest of the

world; I had not the least suspicion of it. Madam de Tournon as yet

appeared inconsolable for the death of her husband, and lived in

retirement with great austerity. Sancerre's sister was in a manner the

only person she saw, and it was at her lodgings he became in love with

her.

"One evening there was to be play at the Louvre, and the actors only

waited for the coming of the King and Madam de Valentinois, when word

was brought that she was indisposed, and that the King would not come.

It was easy to see that the Duchess's indisposition was nothing but

some quarrel with the King; everyone knew the jealousy he had had of

the Mareschal de Brisac during his continuance at Court, but he had

been set out some days on his return to Piemont, and one could not

imagine what was the occasion of this falling out.

"While I was speaking of this to Sancerre, Monsieur d'Anville came into

the room, and told me in a whisper, that the King was so exasperated

and so afflicted at the same time, that one would pity him; that upon a

late reconciliation between him and the Duchess, after the quarrel they

had had about the Mareschal de Brisac, he had given her a ring, and

desired her to wear it; and that as she was dressing herself to come to

the play, he had missed it on her finger, and asked what was become of

it; upon which she seemed in surprise that she had it not, and called

to her women for it, who unfortunately, or for want of being better

instructed, made answer they had not seen it four or five days.

"It was," continued Monsieur d'Anville, "precisely so long, since the

Mareschal de Brisac left the Court, and the King made no doubt but she

gave him the ring when she took her leave of him. The thought of this

awaked in so lively a manner that jealousy which was not yet

extinguished, that he fell into uncommon transports, and loaded her

with a thousand reproaches; he is just gone into her apartment again in

great concern, but whether the reason is a more confirmed opinion that

the Duchess had made a sacrifice of the ring, or for fear of having

disobliged her by his anger, I can't tell.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024