The concern and confusion Madam de Cleves was in was above all that can

be imagined, and if death itself could have drawn her out of this

condition, she would have gladly embraced it; but the Duke de Nemours

was yet more embarrassed if possible: the discourse of the

Queen-Dauphin, by whom he had reason to believe he was not hated, in

the presence of Madam de Cleves, who was confided in by her more than

anybody of the Court, and who confided more in her, threw him into such

confusion and extravagance of thought, that it was impossible for him

to be master of his countenance: the concern he saw Madam de Cleves in

through his fault, and the thought of having given her just cause to

hate him, so shocked him he could not speak a word. The Queen-Dauphin,

seeing how thunderstruck she was, "Look upon him, look upon him," said

she to Madam de Cleves, "and judge if this adventure be not his own." I

n the meantime the Duke de Nemours, finding of what importance it was

to him to extricate himself out of so dangerous a difficulty, recovered

himself from his first surprise, and became at once master of his wit

and looks. "I acknowledge, Madam," said he, "it is impossible to be

more surprised and concerned than I was at the treachery of the

Viscount de Chartres, in relating an adventure of a friend of mine,

which I had in confidence imparted to him. I know how to be revenged

of him," continued he, smiling with a calm air, which removed the

suspicions the Queen-Dauphin had entertained of him: "He has entrusted

me with things of no very small importance; but I don't know, Madam,

why you do me the honour to make me a party in this affair.

The Viscount can't say I am concerned in it, for I told him the contrary; I

may very well be taken to be a man in love, but I cannot believe,

Madam, you will think me of the number of those who are loved again."

The Duke was glad to say anything to the Queen-Dauphin, which alluded

to the inclination he had expressed for her formerly, in order to

divert her thoughts from the subject in question. She imagined she

understood well enough the drift of what he said, but without making

any answer to it, she continued to rally him upon the embarrassment he

was in.

"I was concerned, Madam," said he, "for the interest of my

friend, and on account of the just reproaches he might make me for

having told a secret which is dearer to him than life. He has

nevertheless entrusted me but with one half of it, and has not told me

the name of the person he loves; all I know is, that he's the most

deeply in love of any man in the world, and has the most reason to

complain." "Do you think he has reason to complain," replied the

Queen-Dauphin, "when he is loved again?" "Do you believe he is,

Madam," replied he, "and that a person who had a real passion could

discover it to her husband? That lady, doubtless, is not acquainted

with love, and has mistaken for it a slight acknowledgment of the

fondness her lover had for her. My friend can't flatter himself with

the lent hopes; but, unfortunate as he is, he thinks himself happy at

least in having made her afraid of falling in love with him, and he

would not change his condition for that of the happiest lover in the

world."




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