Never till then was she acquainted with the dreadful inquietudes that

flow from jealousy and distrust; she had applied all her cares to

prevent herself from falling in love with the Duke de Nemours, and had

not before had any fear of his being in love with another: though the

suspicions which this letter had given her were effaced, yet they left

her sensible of the hazard there was of being deceived, and gave her

impressions of distrust and jealousy which she had never felt till that

time; she was surprised that she had never yet reflected how improbable

it was that a man of the Duke de Nemours's turn, who had showed so much

inconstancy towards women, should be capable of a lasting and sincere

passion; she thought it next to impossible for her to be convinced of

the truth of his love;

"But though I could be convinced of it," says

she, "what have I to do in it? Shall I permit it? Shall I make a

return? Shall I engage in gallantry, be false to Monsieur de Cleves,

and be false to myself? In a word, shall I go to expose myself to the

cruel remorses and deadly griefs that rise from love? I am subdued and

vanquished by a passion, which hurries me away in spite of myself; all

my resolutions are vain; I had the same thoughts yesterday that I have

today, and I act today contrary to what I resolved yesterday; I must

convey myself out of the sight of the Duke de Nemours; I must go into

the country, however fantastical my journey may appear; and if Monseur

de Cleves is obstinately bent to hinder me, or to know my reasons for

it, perhaps I shall do him and myself the injury to acquaint him with

them." She continued in this resolution, and spent the whole evening

at home, without going to the Queen-Dauphin to enquire what had

happened with respect to the counterfeited letter.

When the Prince of Cleves returned home, she told him she was resolved

to go into the country; that she was not very well, and had occasion to

take the air. Monsieur de Cleves, to whom she appeared so beautiful

that he could not think her indisposition very considerable, at first

made a jest of her design, and answered that she had forgot that the

nuptials of the Princesses and the tournament were very near, and that

she had not too much time to prepare matters so as to appear there as

magnificently as other ladies. What her husband said did not make her

change her resolution, and she begged he would agree, that while he was

at Compiegne with the King, she might go to Colomiers, a pretty house

then building, within a day's journey of Paris. Monsieur de Cleves

consented to it; she went thither with a design of not returning so

soon, and the King set out for Compiegne, where he was to stay but few

days. The Duke de Nemours was mightily concerned he had not seen Madam de

Cleves since that afternoon which he had spent so agreeably with her,

and which had increased his hopes; he was so impatient to see her again

that he could not rest; so that when the King returned to Paris, the

Duke resolved to go to see his sister the Duchess de Mercoeur, who was

at a country seat of hers very near Colomiers; he asked the Viscount to

go with him, who readily consented to it. The Duke de Nemours did this

in hopes of visiting Madam de Cleves, in company of the Viscount.




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