"Sure you think," replied the Duke de Nemours smiling, "that I have no mistress, by

making such a proposal, and that I have no quarrels or inconveniences

to apprehend by leaving it to be believed that I receive such letters."

"I beg you," said the Viscount, "to hear me seriously; if you have a

mistress, as I doubt not you have, though I do not know who she is, it

will be easy for you to justify yourself, and I'll put you into an

infallible way of doing it. As for you, though you should fail in

justifying yourself, it can cost you nothing but a short falling out;

but for my part, this accident affects me in a very different manner, I

shall dishonour a person who has passionately loved me, and is one of

the most deserving women in the world; on the other side, I shall draw

upon myself an implacable hatred that will ruin my fortune, and perhaps

proceed somewhat further." "I do not comprehend what you say," replied

the Duke de Nemours, "but I begin to see that the reports we have had

of your interest in a great Princess are not wholly without ground."

"They are not," replied the Viscount, "but I would to God they were:

you would not see me in the perplexity I am in; but I must relate the

whole affair to you, to convince you how much I have to fear.

"Ever since I came to Court, the Queen has treated me with a great deal

of favour and distinction, and I had grounds to believe that she was

very kindly disposed towards me: there was nothing, however, particular

in all this, and I never presumed to entertain any thoughts of her but

what were full of respect; so far from it, that I was deeply in love

with Madam de Themines; anyone that sees her may easily judge, 'tis

very possible for one to be greatly in love with her, when one is

beloved by her, and so I was. About two years ago, the Court being at

Fontainebleau, I was two or three times in conversation with the Queen,

at hours when there were very few people in her apartment: it appeared

to me, that my turn of wit was agreeable to her, and I observed she

always approved what I said.

One day among others she fell into a

discourse concerning confidence. I said there was nobody in whom I

entirely confided, that I found people always repented of having done

so, and that I knew a great many things of which I had never spoke: the

Queen told me, she esteemed me the more for it, that she had not found

in France anyone that could keep a secret, and that this was what had

embarrassed her more than anything else, because it had deprived her of

the pleasure of having a confidant; that nothing was so necessary in

life as to have somebody one could open one's mind to with safety,

especially for people of her rank. Afterwards she frequently resumed

the same discourse, and acquainted me with very particular

circumstances; at last I imagined she was desirous to learn my secrets,

and to entrust me with her own; this thought engaged me strictly to

her.




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