THE ROCKS, Sunday, July 3, 1689.
It is nine months this third of July, reckoning from day to day, and
from Sunday to Sunday, since I left you with a deluge of tears, and
more than you perceived, at Charenton. Such partings are grievous and
bitter, particularly when we have not much time to lose. But to turn
them to our advantage, we ought to make them a period of abstinence
and penance, which would be the sure means of making them salutary;
it is certain that this holy economy is a favor from heaven, like all
others, which we do not deserve to obtain. Nine months, then, have
passed, in which I have neither seen nor embraced you, nor even heard
the sound of your voice. I have not been ill, I have had no particular
uneasiness; I have seen fine houses, fine countries, and fine cities.
Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that it appears to me nine years
since I left you. I have had no letter from you this post; the delay
is always a disappointment to me. Madame de Lavardin tells me that
she said to Madame de Buri, with regard to Chabrilland’s cause, which
the last expects to gain, “You have always great expectations; but
one of your friends, who understands these things, is not of the same
opinion.” “Ah!” said she, “you mean M. de Fieubet, but I do not believe
him.” And Madame de Lavardin afterward told me that M. d’Arles is to
have the honor of the civil petition. It is he, then, who is to be
the solicitor; but I would not, I think, solicit with beat of drum in
open court, where people are convinced you have already but too much
credit. We lead here, my dear countess, the life I described to you.
It is very fine weather; we are so perfumed at night with jasmines and
orange-flowers, that in this respect I think I am in Provence. M. and
Madame de Chaulnes have written to me from St. Malo, and constantly
mention you. Write to La Troche; she can not be consoled for your
forgetfulness of her. I know not how it has happened, for you are
punctual. It is not possible that I have not informed you of the death
of her husband. I expect your answer.