"Your friend has a passion very easy to be satisfied," said
the Queen-Dauphin, "and I begin to believe it is not yourself you are
speaking of; I am almost," continued she, "of the opinion of Madam de
Cleves, who maintains that this story cannot be true." "I don't really
believe it can be true," answered Madam de Cleves, who had been silent
hitherto; "and though it were possible to be true, how should it have
been known?
It is very unlikely that a woman, capable of so
extraordinary a resolution, would have the weakness to publish it; and
surely her husband would not have told it neither, or he must be a
husband very unworthy to have been dealt with in so generous a manner."
The Duke de Nemours, who perceived the suspicions Madam de Cleves had
of her husband, was glad to confirm her in them, knowing he was the
most formidable rival he had to overcome. "Jealousy," said he, "and a
curiosity perhaps of knowing more than a wife has thought fit to
discover, may make a husband do a great many imprudent things."
Madam de Cleves was put to the last proof of her power and courage, and
not being able to endure the conversation any longer, she was going to
say she was not well, when by good fortune for her the Duchess of
Valentinois came in, and told the Queen-Dauphin that the King was just
coming; the Queen-Dauphin went into the closet to dress herself, and
the Duke de Nemours came up to Madam de Cleves as she was following
her. "I would give my life, Madam," said he, "to have a moment's
conversation with you; but though I have a world of important things to
say to you, I think nothing is more so, than to entreat you to believe,
that if I have said anything in which the Queen-Dauphin may seem
concerned, I did it for reasons which do not relate to her." Madam de
Cleves pretended not to hear him, and left him without giving him a
look, and went towards the King, who was just come in. As there were
abundance of people there, she trod upon her gown, and made a false
step, which served her as an excuse to go out of a place she had not
the power to stay in, and so pretending to have received some hurt she
went home.
Monsieur de Cleves came to the Louvre, and was surprised not to find
his wife there; they told him of the accident that had befallen her,
and he went immediately home to enquire after her; he found her in bed,
and perceived her hurt was not considerable. When he had been some time
with her, he found her so excessive melancholy that he was surprised at
it; "What ails you, Madam?" says he; "you seem to have some other grief
than that which you complain of." "I feel the most sensible grief I
can ever experience," answered she; "what use have you made of that
extraordinary, or rather foolish confidence which I placed in you? Did
not I deserve to have my secret kept? and though I had not deserved it,
did not your own interest engage you to it? Should your curiosity to
know a name it was not reasonable for me to tell you have obliged you
to make a confidant to assist you in the discovery? Nothing but that
curiosity could have made you guilty of so cruel an indiscretion; the
consequences of it are as bad as they possibly can be. This adventure
is known, and I have been told it by those who are not aware that I am
principally concerned in it."