correspondence which can solve this doubt that we have decided to
suppress M. de Valmont’s letter.
[16] This casket contained all the letters relating to her adventure
with M. de Valmont.
[17] Letters the eighty-first and eighty-fifth of this collection.
[18] It is from this correspondence, from that handed over in the same
way on the death of Madame de Tourvel, and from the letters alike
confided to Madame de Rosemonde by Madame de Volanges, that the present
collection has been formed, the originals of which remain in the hands
of Madame de Rosemonde’s heirs.
[19] This letter was left unanswered.
[20] Private reasons and considerations, which we shall ever make it a
duty to respect, force us to halt here.
We cannot, at this moment, give our reader the continuation of
Mademoiselle de Volanges’ adventures, nor acquaint him with the
sinister events which culminated the misfortunes, or completed the
punishment, of Madame de Merteuil.
Perhaps some day it will be in our power to complete this work; but
we can give no undertaking in this matter: and, even were we able to
do so, we should still deem it our duty first to consult the taste of
the public, which has not our reasons for taking an interest in this
narration.
Corrections
The first line indicates the original, the second the correction
p. 314
who could fail do draw profit
who could fail to draw profit
p. 356
what a pathethic scene!
what a pathetic scene!