_The_ Presidente de Tourvel _to_ Madame de Volanges.
You will, I doubt not, Madam, be desirous to be informed of an incident
in the life of Mr. de Valmont, which seems to me to form a striking
contrast to all those that have been related to you. Nothing can be
more painful than to think disadvantageously of any one, or so grievous
as to find those who have every qualification to inspire the love of
virtue, replete with vice; besides, you are so inclined to the exercise
of the virtue of indulgence, that I think I can’t please you more, than
in furnishing you motives for reconsidering any judgment you may have
formed, that may be justly accused of rigour. Mr. Valmont now seems
entitled to this favour, I may almost say to this act of justice, for
the following reason:
This morning he went on one of those excursions, which might have given
room to imagine a scheme in the neighbourhood; a supposition which, I
must own, I too hastily adopted.
Happily for him, and still more happily for us, since it preserves us
from an act of injustice, one of my people had occasion to go the same
way;[1] and thus my fortunate, but censurable curiosity was satisfied.
He acquainted us that Mr. de Valmont, having found at the village of
——, an unhappy family whose effects were on the point of being sold
for payment of taxes, not only discharged the debt for the poor people,
but even gave them a pretty considerable sum besides. My servant was
witness to this virtuous act; and informs me that the country people,
in conversation, told him, that a servant, whom they described, and
who mine believes to belong to Mr. de Valmont, had been yesterday at
the village to make inquiry after objects of charity. This was not a
transitory fit of compassion; it must have proceeded from determined
benevolence, the noblest virtue of the noblest minds; but be it chance
or design, you must allow, it is a worthy and laudable act; the bare
recital of it melted me to tears! I will add also still farther, to do
him justice, that when I mentioned this transaction, of which he had
not given the least hint, he begin by denying it to be founded; and
even when he acquiesced, seemed to lay so little stress on it, that his
modesty redoubled its merit. Now tell me, most venerable friend, if
M. de Valmont is an irretrievable debauchee? If he is so, and behaves
thus, where are we to look for men of principle? Is it possible that
the wicked should participate with the good the extatic pleasures of
benevolence? Would the Almighty permit that a virtuous poor family
should receive aid from the hand of an abandoned wretch, and return
thanks for it to his Divine Providence? And is it possible to imagine
the Creator would think himself honoured in hearing pure hearts pouring
blessings on a reprobate? No; I am rather inclined to think that
errors, although they may have been of some duration, are not eternal;
and I cannot bring myself to think, that the man who acts well, is
an enemy to virtue. Mr. de Valmont is only, perhaps, another example
of the dangerous effects of connections. I embrace this idea, and it
gratifies me. If, on the one hand, it clears up his character in your
mind, it will, on the other, enhance the value of the tender friendship
that unites me to you for life.