"Ah! Madam," cries Monsieur de Cleves, "both your looks
and words convince me that you have reasons to desire to be alone,
which I don't know; I conjure you to tell them me." He urged her a
great while to inform him, without being able to oblige her to it; and
after she had excused herself in a manner which still increased her
husband's curiosity, she continued in a deep silence, with her eyes
cast down then, taking up the discourse on a sudden, and looking upon
him, "Force me not," said she, "to confess a thing to you which I have
not the power to confess, though I have often designed it; remember
only, that it is not prudent a woman of my years, and mistress of her
own conduct, should remain exposed in the midst of a Court." "What is
it, Madam," cried Monsieur de Cleves, "that you lead me to imagine? I
dare not speak it, for fear of offending you." Madam de Cleves making
no answer, her silence confirmed her husband in what he thought; "You
say nothing to me," says he, "and that tells me clearly, that I am not
mistaken."
"Alas, sir," answered she, falling on her knees, "I am
going to make a confession to you, such as no woman ever yet made to
her husband; but the innocence of my intentions, and of my conduct,
give me power to do it; it is true, I have reasons to absent myself
from Court, and I would avoid the dangers persons of my age are
sometimes liable to; I have never shown any mark of weakness, and I
cannot apprehend I ever shall, if you will permit me to retire from
Court, since now I have not Madam de Chartres to assist me in my
conduct; however dangerous a step I am taking, I take it with pleasure
to preserve myself worthy of you; I ask you a thousand pardons, if I
have sentiments which displease you, at least I will never displease
you by my actions; consider, that to do what I do, requires more
friendship and esteem for a husband than ever wife had; direct my
conduct, have pity on me, and if you can still love me."
Monsieur de Cleves, all the while she spoke, continued leaning his head
on his hand, almost beside himself, and never thought of raising her
up. When she had done speaking, and he cast his eyes upon her, and saw
her on her knees with her face drowned in tears, inimitably beautiful,
he was ready to die for grief, and taking her up in his arms, "Have you
pity on me, Madam," says he, "for I deserve it, and pardon me, if in
the first moments of an affliction so violent as mine, I do not answer
as I ought to so generous a proceeding as yours; I think you more
worthy of esteem and admiration than any woman that ever was, but I
find myself also the most unfortunate of men: you inspired me with
passion the first moment I saw you, and that passion has never decayed;
not your coldness, nor even enjoyment itself, has been able to
extinguish it; it still continues in its first force, and yet it has
not been in my power to kindle in your breast any spark of love for me,
and now I find you fear you have an inclination for another; and who is
he, Madam, this happy man that gives you such apprehensions? How long
has he charmed you?