"He was discreet," said she, "while he was

unhappy; but the thought of being happy, though on uncertain grounds,

has put an end to his discretion; he could not consider that he was

beloved, without desiring to have it known; he said everything he could

say; I never acknowledged it was he I was in love with; he suspected

it, and has declared his suspicions; if he had been sure of it, he

might have acted as he has; I was to blame for thinking him a man

capable of concealing what flattered his vanity; and yet it is for this

man, whom I thought so different from other men, that I am become like

other women, who was so unlike them before. I have lost the heart and

esteem of a husband who ought to have been my happiness; I shall soon

be looked upon by all the world as a person led away by an idle and

violent passion; he for whom I entertain this passion is no longer

ignorant of it; and it was to avoid these misfortunes that I hazarded

my quiet, and even my life." These sad reflections were followed by a

torrent of tears; but however great her grief was, she plainly

perceived she should be able to support it, were she but satisfied in

the Duke de Nemours.

The Duke was no less uneasy than she; the indiscretion he had been

guilty of in telling what he did to the Viscount de Chartres, and the

mischievous consequences of it, vexed him to the heart; he could not

represent to himself the affliction and sorrow he had seen Madam de

Cleves in without being pierced with anguish; he was inconsolable for

having said things to her about this adventure, which, though gallant

enough in themselves, seemed on this occasion too gross and impolite,

since they gave Madam de Cleves to understand he was not ignorant that

she was the woman who had that violent passion, and that he was the

object of it. It was before the utmost of his wishes to have a

conversation with her, but now he found he ought rather to fear than

desire it. "What should I say to her!" says he; "should I go to

discover further to her what I have made her too sensible of already!

Shall I tell how I know she loves me; I, who have never dared to say I

loved her? Shall I begin with speaking openly of my passion, that she

may see my hopes have inspired me with boldness? Can I even think of

approaching her, and of giving her the trouble to endure my sight?

Which way could I justify myself? I have no excuse, I am unworthy of

the least regard from Madam de Cleves, and I even despair of her ever

looking upon me: I have given her by my own fault better means of

defending herself against me than any she was searching for, and

perhaps searching for to no purpose. I lose by my imprudence the glory

and happiness of being loved by the most beautiful and deserving lady

in the world; but if I had lost this happiness, without involving her

in the most extreme grief and sufferings at the same time, I should

have had some comfort; for at this moment I am more sensible of the

harm I have done her, than of that I have done myself in forfeiting her

favour."




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