After these reflections, he considered what measures he ought to take
to see her; he found he had no longer any reason to conceal his passion
from the Viscount de Chartres; he resolved to speak to him of it, and
to communicate to him his design with regard to his niece.
The Viscount was then at Paris, the town being extremely full, and
everybody busy in preparing equipages and dresses to attend the King of
Navarre, who was to conduct the Queen of Spain: Monsieur de Nemours,
went to the Viscount, and made an ingenuous confession to him of all he
had concealed hitherto, except Madam de Cleves's sentiments, which he
would not seem to know. The Viscount received what he told him with a great deal of pleasure,
and assured him, that though he was not acquainted with his sentiments
on that subject, he had often thought, since Madam de Cleves had been a
widow, that she was the only lady that deserved him. Monsieur de
Nemours entreated him to give him an opportunity of speaking to her,
and learning what disposition she was in.
The Viscount proposed to carry him to her house, but the Duke was of
opinion she would be shocked at it, because as yet she saw nobody; so
that they agreed, it would be better for the Viscount to ask her to
come to him, under some pretence, and for the Duke to come to them by a
private staircase, that he might not be observed. Accordingly this was
executed; Madam de Cleves came, the Viscount went to receive her, and
led her into a great closet at the end of his apartment; some time
after Monsieur de Nemours came in, as by chance: Madam de Cleves was
in great surprise to see him; she blushed and endeavoured to hide it;
the Viscount at first spoke of indifferent matters, and then went out,
as if he had some orders to give, telling Madam de Cleves he must
desire her to entertain the Duke in his stead, and that he would return
immediately.
It is impossible to express the sentiments of Monsieur de Nemours, and
Madam de Cleves, when they saw themselves alone, and at liberty to
speak to one another, as they had never been before: they continued
silent a while; at length, said Monsieur de Nemours, "Can you, Madam,
pardon the Viscount for giving me an opportunity of seeing you, and
speaking to you, an opportunity which you have always so cruelly denied
me?"
"I ought not to pardon him," replied she, "for having forgot the
condition I am in, and to what he exposes my reputation." Having spoke
these words, she would have gone away; but Monsieur de Nemours stopping
her, "Fear not, Madam," said he; "you have nothing to apprehend; nobody
knows I am here; hear me, Madam, hear me, if not out of goodness, yet
at least for your own sake, and to free yourself from the
extravagancies which a passion I am no longer master of will infallibly
hurry me into." Madam de Cleves now first yielded to the inclination
she had for the Duke de Nemours, and beholding him with eyes full of
softness and charms, "But what can you hope for," says she, "from the
complaisance you desire of me? You will perhaps repent that you have
obtained it, and I shall certainly repent that I have granted it. You
deserve a happier fortune than you have hitherto had, or than you can
have for the future, unless you seek it elsewhere." "I, Madam," said
he, "seek happiness anywhere else? Or is there any happiness for me,
but in your love? Though I never spoke of it before, I cannot believe,
Madam, that you are not acquainted with my passion, or that you do not
know it to be the greatest and most sincere that ever was; what trials
has it suffered in things you are a stranger to? What trials have you
put it to by your rigour?"