_The_ Marchioness de Merteuil _to the_ Viscount de Valmont.
Yes, to be sure, Danceny is a very proper person to get any thing out
of. If he has said any thing to you, he is a braggart. I do not know
such a fool in love matters, and I reproach myself more and more for
the pains we take for him. Do you know, I had like to be exposed on his
account, and for no purpose whatever? Oh! I shall be revenged, I assure
him.
When I called yesterday on Madame de Volanges, she had altered her
mind; she would not go out; she said she was indisposed, and I was
forced to make use of all my eloquence to bring her to a resolution;
and the moment was drawing near that Danceny would have arrived before
we set out; which would have been so much the more awkward, as Madame
de Volanges had told him the evening before, she would not be at home:
her daughter and I were upon thorns.
At length we set out; and the little thing squeezed my hand so
affectionately, bidding me adieu, that in spite of her project for a
rupture, which she was seriously engaged in, I prognosticated wonders
from the evening’s amusement.
But my uneasiness was not to end thus. We were scarcely half an hour
at Madame de ——’s, when Madame de Volanges was really taken ill,
and wanted to return home: but I, who was afraid that we should
surprise the young people, as there was every reason to dread, took the
resolution to alarm her on the score of her health, which fortunately
is not very difficult, and detained her an hour and a half without
consenting to bring her back, lest the motion of the carriage should be
prejudicial to her. At length we returned at the hour agreed on. By the
bashful look I observed at our arrival, I own I thought that, at least,
our labour was not lost.
The strong inclination that I had to be satisfied, made me remain with
Madame de Volanges, who immediately went to bed; and after having
supped by her bedside, we came away soon, in order to leave her to her
repose, and went into her daughter’s apartment. She, on her part, did
every thing I expected from her; scruples fled, new oaths of constancy,
&c. &c. but that blockhead Danceny did not advance a step farther than
he was before. One can quarrel with him safely, for the reconciliation
would not be difficult; the little thing, however, says, that he
wanted farther advantages, but she knew how to defend herself: I would
venture, however, to lay a wager, that she brags, or, at least, excuses
him, and I am even almost certain of it. I took it into my head, to
know what defence she was capable of making; and from question to
question, I warmed her imagination to such a degree—in short, you may
believe me, there never was a person more susceptible of a sensitive
surprise than she is. This little dear creature is truly amiable; she
deserves a better lover; she, at least, shall have a good friend, for I
am most sincerely attached to her. I have promised to model her, and I
believe I’ll keep my word. I have often perceived the want of a female
confident, and I would rather have her than any other; but I can’t make
any thing of her, until she is—what she must be; that is one more
reason for being angry with Danceny.
Farewell, Viscount; do not come to my house to-morrow, unless it be
in the morning. I have acquiesced to the pressing invitations of the
Chevalier for a night at the villa.
_Sept._ 4, 17—.