words, which she could not apply to herself, since she thought

nobody knew anything of her passion for the Duke; "I see nothing
extraordinary in that," replied she, "considering how young and

handsome a man the Duke de Nemours is." "No," replied the
Queen-Dauphin, "there is nothing extraordinary in it; but what

will surprise you is, that this lady, who is in love with the
Duke de Nemours, has never given him any mark of it, and that the

fear she was in lest she should not always be mistress of her
passion, has made her confess it to her husband, that he may take

her away from Court; and it is the Duke de Nemours himself who
has related" target="_blank" title="a.叙述的；有联系的">related what I tell you."

If Madam de Cleves was grieved at first through the thought that
she had no concern in this adventure, the Queen-Dauphin's last

words threw her into an agony, by making it certain she had too
much in it; she could not answer, but continued leaning her head

on the bed; meanwhile the Queen went on, and was so intent on
what she was saying, that she took no notice of her

embarrassment. When Madam de Cleves was a little come to
herself, "This story, Madam," says she, "does not seem very

probable to me, and I should be glad to know who told it you."
"It was Madam de Martigues," replied the Queen-Dauphin, "and

she heard it from the Viscount de Chartres; you know the Viscount
is in love with her; he entrusted this matter to her as a secret,

and he was told it by the Duke de Nemours himself; it is true the
Duke did not tell the lady's name, nor acknowledge that he was

the person she was in love with, but the Viscount makes no manner
of question of it." When the Queen-Dauphin had done speaking,

somebody came up to the bed; Madam de Cleves was so placed that
she could not see who it was, but she was presently convinced,

when the Queen-Dauphin cried out with an air of gaiety and
surprise, "Here he is himself, I'll ask him what there is in

it." Madam de Cleves knew very well it was the Duke de Nemours,
without turning herself, as it really was; upon which she went up

hastily to the Queen-Dauphin, and told her softly, that she ought
to be cautious of speaking to him of this adventure, which he had

entrusted to the Viscount de Chartres as a secret, and that it
was a thing which might create a quarrel between them. "You are

too wise," said the Queen-Dauphin smiling, and turned to the
Duke de Nemours. He was dressed for the evening assembly, and

taking up the discourse with that grace which was natural to him,
"I believe, Madam," says he, "I may venture to think you were

speaking of me as I came in, that you had a design to ask me
something, and that Madam de Cleves is against it." "It is

true," replied the Queen-Dauphin, "but I shall not be so
complaisant to her on this occasion as I was used to be; I would

know of you, whether a story I have been told is true, and
whether you are not the person who is in love with, and beloved

by a lady of the Court, who endeavours to conceal her passion
from you, and has confessed it to her husband."

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."
In 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." "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