_The_ Marchioness de Merteuil _to_ Viscount Valmont.
My dear Viscount, I this moment received your enormous packet. If the
date is right, I should have had it twenty-four hours sooner; however,
was I to take the time to read it, I should not have any to answer
it; therefore, I prefer owning its receipt, and let us chat on other
matters. It is not that I have any thing to say relative to myself; for
the autumn has left nothing in Paris scarce that bears the human form,
and for this month past, my prudence and discretion are truly amazing;
any other than my Chevalier would be tired out with my constancy.
Having no other amusement, I divert myself with the little Volanges,
who shall be the subject of this epistle.
Do you know you have lost more than you can imagine, in not taking
this child under your tuition? She is really delightful; she has
neither disposition or motive; you may then guess her conversation is
mild and easy. I do not think she will ever shine in the sentimental
line; but every thing announces the most lively sensations. Without
wit or artifice, she has, notwithstanding, a certain kind of natural
duplicity, if one may speak so, which sometimes astonishes me, and will
be much more successful, as her figure exhibits the picture of candour
and openness. She is naturally very caressing, and she sometimes
entertains me: her imagination is surprisingly lively; and she is the
more agreeable, as she is totally ignorant, and longs to know every
thing. Sometimes she takes fits of impatience that are truly comic; she
laughs, she frets, she cries, and then begs of me to instruct her, with
a most seducing innocence. I am almost jealous of whoever that pleasure
is reserved for.
I do not know whether I wrote you, that for four or five days past I
had the honour to be her confident. You may guess at first I affected
an appearance of severity; but when I observe that she imagined I was
convinced with her bad reasons, I let them pass current; and she is
fully persuaded it is entirely owing to her eloquence: this precaution
was necessary, lest I should be exposed. I gave her leave to write and
say, _I love_; and the same day, without her having any suspicion, I
contrived a tête-à-tête for her with her Danceny. But only think, he is
such a fool, he has not yet obtained a single kiss from her. However,
the boy makes pretty verses. Lord, what stupid creatures those wits
are! He is so much so, that he makes me uneasy; for I am resolved not
to have any thing to do with him.
Now is the time you might be very useful to me. You are enough
acquainted with Danceny to gain his confidence; and if he once gave it
you, we should go on at a great rate. Make haste with your Presidente,
for I am determined Gercourt shall not escape. I spoke to the little
thing yesterday about him, and painted him in such colours, that she
could not hate him more were she married to him for ten years. However,
I gave her a long lesson on conjugal fidelity; nothing is equal to my
severity on this point. By this means I establish my reputation for
virtue, which too great a condescension might destroy; and increase the
hatred with which I mean to gratify her husband. And, lastly, I hope,
by making her think it is not lawful to indulge in a love matter only
during the short time she is unmarried, she will come to a decision
more expeditiously to lose no time.
Adieu, Viscount! I shall read your volume at my toilette.
_Aug._ 27, 17—.