Viscount de Valmont _to the_ Marchioness de Merteuil.
Share in my joy, my charming friend; I am loved; I have at length
triumphed over that rebellious heart. In vain does she still
dissemble; my happy address has discovered the secret. Thanks to my
unremitting efforts, I know all that interests me: since last night,
that propitious night, I am again myself; I have discovered a double
mystery of love and iniquity; I shall enjoy the one, and be revenged
of the other; I shall fly from pleasure to pleasure. The bare idea of
it transports me almost beyond the bounds of prudence; and yet I shall
have occasion for some of it, to enable me to put any proper order in
my narrative; but let us try:
Yesterday, after I had wrote my letter, I received one from the
celestial devotee; I send it enclosed; you will observe she with less
awkwardness than might be expected, gives me leave to write to her;
yet presses my departure, which I well knew I could not defer without
prejudice to myself. However, tempted by a curiosity to know who had
wrote against me, I was still undetermined how to act. I attempted
to bribe her chamber-maid, to induce her to give me her mistress’s
pockets, which she could easily do at night, and replace them the next
morning, without giving the least suspicion. I offered ten louis d’ors
for this trifling service; but I found her a hesitating, scrupulous, or
timid creature, whom neither my eloquence nor money could bring over. I
was using farther solicitations, when the bell rung for supper. I was
then obliged to break off; and thought myself very happy in obtaining
from her a promise to keep my secret, on which, however, you may
believe I placed little dependence.
I never was more out of humour. I found I had committed myself, and
reproached myself much for the imprudent step I had taken.
After I retired in great anxiety, I spoke to my huntsman, who was
entitled, as a successful lover, to some share of credit. I desired
he would prevail on this girl to do what I required, or at least to
insure secrecy: he, who in general makes no doubt of success in any
thing he undertakes, appeared dubious of this negociation, and made
a reflection, the depth of which astonished me: “You certainly know
better than I can tell you, Sir,” said he, “that to kiss a girl is
nothing more than to indulge her in a fancy of her own, and that,
there is a wide difference often between that and making her act
according to our wishes; and I have so much less dependence on her, as
I have much reason to think she has another swain, and that I only owe
my good fortune to her want of occupation in the country; and had it
not been for my zeal for your service, Sir, I should not have sought
it more than once (this lad is a treasure). As to the secret,” added
he, “what purpose will it answer to make her promise, since she will
risk nothing in deceiving us? To speak of it again, would only make her
think it of greater importance, and make her more anxious to insinuate
herself into her mistress’s favour, by divulging it.” The justness of
these reflections added to my embarrassment. Fortunately the fellow was
in a talking mood; and as I had occasion for him, I let him go on:
while relating his adventures with this girl, he informed me the room
she slept in was only separated from the apartment of her mistress by a
single partition, and as the least noise would be heard, they met every
night in his room. I instantly formed my plan, which I communicated to
him, and we executed it successfully.
I awaited until the clock struck two, and then, as was agreed, went to
the rendezvous, with a lighted candle in my hand, and under pretence of
having several times in vain rung the bell. My confidant, who plays his
part to admiration, performed a little scene of surprise, despair, and
confusion, which I put a stop to, by sending him to warm me some water,
which I pretended to have occasion for; the scrupulous waiting-maid was
the more disconcerted, as the fellow, who had improved on my scheme,
had made her make a toilet very suitable to the heat of the season, but
which it by no means apologised for.
Being sensible the more this girl was humbled, the less trouble I
should have to bring her to my designs, I did not suffer her to change
either her situation or dress; and having ordered my servant to wait
for me in my room, I sat by her bed-side, which was in much disorder,
and began a conversation. It was necessary to keep the ascendant I had
obtained, and I therefore preserved a _sang froid_ that would have done
honour to the continence of Scipio; and without taking the smallest
liberty with her, which her ruddy countenance, and the opportunity,
perhaps, gave her a right to hope; I talked to her of business with as
much indifference, as I would have done with an attorney.
My conditions were, that I would observe the strictest secrecy,
provided the day following, at the same hour, she put me in possession
of her mistress’s pockets, and my offer of ten louis-d’ors. I now
confirm I will not take any advantage of your situation. Every thing
was granted, as you may believe; I then retired, and left the happy
couple to repair their lost time.
I employed mine in sleep: and in the morning, wanting a pretence not
to answer my fair one’s letter before I had examined her papers, which
could not be till the night following, I resolved to go a-hunting,
which took up the greatest part of the day.
At my return I was received very coolly. I have reason to believe
she was a little piqued at my want of eagerness to make good use of
the time that remained, especially after the softer letter which she
wrote me. I formed this conjecture, because, on Madame de Rosemonde’s
having reproached me on my long absence, the fair one replied with some
acrimony, “Oh, let us not reproach Mr. de Valmont for his attachment
to the only pleasure he can find here.” I complained that they did not
do me justice, and took the opportunity to assure them I was so well
pleased with their company, that I sacrificed to it a very interesting
letter that I had to write; adding, that not having been able to sleep
several nights, I endeavoured to try if fatigue would not bring me my
usual rest; my looks sufficiently explained the subject of my letter,
and the cause of my want of rest. I took care to affect, during the
whole evening, a melancholy softness, which succeeded tolerably well,
and under which I disguised my impatience for the hour which was to
give me up the secret she so obstinately persisted in concealing. At
length we retired; and soon after the faithful waiting-maid brought
me the stipulated price of my discretion: when in possession of this
treasure, I proceeded with my usual prudence to arranging them; for it
was of the utmost importance to replace every thing in order.
I first hit upon two letters from the husband, indigested stuff,
a mixture of uninteresting details of law-suits, and unmeaning
protestations of conjugal love, which I had the patience to read
through; but not a syllable in either concerning me. I put them in
their place with some disgust; but that vanished on finding, in my
hand-writing, the scraps of my famous letter from Dijon, carefully
collected. Fortunately it came into my head to run them over. You may
guess the excess of my raptures, when I distinctly perceived the traces
of my adorable devotee’s tears. I must own I gave way to a puerile
emotion, and kissed this letter with a transport that I did not think
myself susceptible of. I continued the happy search; I found all my
letters in order according to their dates; and what still surprised me
more agreeably was, to find the first of them, that which I thought
had been returned to me by my ungrateful fair one, faithfully copied
in her own hand-writing, but in an altered and trembling manner, which
sufficiently testified the soft agitation of her heart during the time
she was employed at it.
So far I was entirely occupied with love; but soon gave way to the
greatest rage. Who think you it is that wants to destroy me, with
this woman I adore? What fury do you suppose wicked enough to form so
diabolical a plan! You know her: it’s your friend, your relation; it
is Madame de Volanges. You cannot conceive what a string of horrible
stories the infernal Megera has wrote against me. It is she, and
she alone, has disturbed the peace of this angelic woman; it is by
her counsels, by her pernicious advice, that I find myself obliged
to retire; I am sacrificed to her! Certainly her daughter shall be
seduced; but that is not sufficient, she shall be ruined; and since the
age of this accursed woman shelters her from my blows, I must strike at
her in the object of her affections.
She will then force me to return to Paris; she obliges me to it! Be it
so; I will return; but she shall have reason to lament my return. I am
sorry Danceny is to be the hero of this adventure; he has a fund of
honour that will be a restraint upon us; but he is in love, and we are
often together: I may turn him to account. My anger overcomes me, and I
forget that I am to give you the recital of what has passed to-day.
This morning I saw my lovely prude; she never appeared so charming;
that was of course; it is the most powerful moment with a woman, that
shall produce an intoxication of soul, which is so often spoke of, and
so rarely felt, when, though certain of their affections, we have not
yet possessed their favours; which is precisely my case. Perhaps the
idea, also, of being deprived of the pleasure of seeing her, served to
embellish her. At length the post arrived, and brought me your letter
of the 27th; and whilst I was reading it, I hesitated whether I should
keep my word or not; but I met my fair one’s eyes, and I found it
impossible to refuse her any thing.
I therefore announced my departure immediately after Madame de
Rosemonde left us: I was four paces distant from the austere lovely
one, when she started with a frightened air, “leave me, leave me, Sir,”
said she; “for the love of God, leave me!” This fervent prayer, which
discovered her emotion, animated me the more; I was now close to her,
and took hold of her hands, which she had joined together with the most
moving, affecting expressiveness. I then began my tender complaints,
when some evil genius brought back Madame de Rosemonde. The timid
devotee, who has in reality some reason to be apprehensive, seized the
opportunity, and retired.
I notwithstanding offered her my hand, which she accepted; and judging
favourably of this kindness, which she had not shown for so long a
time, and again renewing my complaints, I endeavoured to squeeze hers.
She at first endeavoured to draw it back; but upon a more pressing
instance, she gave it up with a good grace, although without either
answering this emotion or my discourse. Being come to the door of
her apartment, I wanted to kiss that hand before I left her: she
struggled, but an _ah! think I am going to part_, pronounced with great
tenderness, made her awkward and defenceless; the kiss was scarcely
given, when the hand recovered its strength to escape, and the fair one
entered her apartment where the waiting-maid was: here ends my tale.
As I presume you will be to-morrow at the Lady Marechale’s de ——,
where, certainly, I shall not go to look for you; and as at our first
interview we shall have a great many things to talk over, especially
that of the little Volanges, which I do not lose sight of; I have
determined to send this letter before me; and although it is so long,
I will not close it until the moment I am going to send it to the
post; for I am so circumstanced, that a great deal may depend on an
opportunity; and I leave you to watch for it.
P. S. Eight o’clock at night.
Nothing new; not the least moment of liberty; even the greatest care
employed to avoid it. Yet as much grief as decency would permit, for
the least another event, which may not be a matter of indifference, as
Madame de Rosemonde has commanded me to give an invitation to Madame de
Volanges, to come and spend a few days in the country.
Adieu, my lovely friend, until to-morrow, or the day after at farthest!
_Aug._ 28, 17—.