"In the meantime, however busy and full I was of my new engagement with

the Queen, I still kept fair with Madam de Themines by a natural

inclination which it was not in my power to conquer; I thought she

cooled in her love to me, and whereas, had I been prudent, I should

have made use of the change I observed in her for my cure, my love

redoubled upon it, and I managed so ill that the Queen got some

knowledge of this intrigue.

Jealousy is natural to persons of her

nation, and perhaps she had a greater affection for me than she even

imagined herself; at least the report of my being in love gave her so

much uneasiness, that I thought myself entirely ruined with her;

however I came into favour again by virtue of submissions, false oaths,

and assiduity; but I should not have been able to have deceived her

long, had not Madam de Themines's change disengaged me from her against

my will; she convinced me she no longer loved me, and I was so

thoroughly satisfied of it, that I was obliged to give her no further

uneasiness, but to let her be quiet.

Some time after she wrote me this

letter which I have lost; I learned from it, she had heard of the

correspondence I had with the other woman I told you of, and that that

was the reason of her change. As I had then nothing further left to

divide me, the Queen was well enough satisfied with me; but the

sentiments I have for her not being of a nature to render me incapable

of other engagements, and love not being a thing that depends on our

will, I fell in love with Madam de Martigues, of whom I was formerly a

great admirer, while she was with Villemontais, maid of honour to the

Queen-Dauphin.

I have reason to believe she does not hate me; the

discretion I observe towards her, and which she does not wholly know

the reasons of, is very agreeable to her; the Queen has not the least

suspicion on her account, but she has another jealousy which is not

less troublesome; as Madam de Martigues is constantly with the

Queen-Dauphin, I go there much oftener than usual; the Queen imagines

that 'tis this Princess I am in love with; the Queen-Dauphin's rank,

which is equal to her own, and the superiority of her youth and beauty,

create a jealousy that rises even to fury, and fills her with a hatred

against her daughter-in-law that cannot be concealed.

The Cardinal of Loraine, who, I believe has been long aspiring to the Queen's favour,

and would be glad to fill the place I possess, is, under pretence of

reconciling the two Queens, become master of the differences between

them; I doubt not but he has discovered the true cause of the Queen's

anger, and I believe he does me all manner of ill offices, without

letting her see that he designs it. This is the condition my affairs

are in at present; judge what effect may be produced by the letter

which I have lost, and which I unfortunately put in my pocket with

design to restore it to Madam de Themines: if the Queen sees this

letter, she will know I have deceived her; and that almost at the very

same time that I deceived her for Madam de Themines, I deceived Madam

de Themines for another; judge what an idea this will give her of me,

and whether she will ever trust me again. If she does not see the

letter, what shall I say to her?




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