Marchioness de Merteuil _to_ Viscount de Valmont.
You are very soon alarmed, my dear friend: this Prevan must be
formidable indeed, but what a simple modest creature am I, who have
often met this haughty conqueror, and have scarce ever looked at
him; nothing less than your letter would have made me pay the least
attention to him. I corrected my error yesterday; he was at the Opera,
almost opposite to me; I was captivated with him. He is not only
handsome, but very handsome; fine delicate features, and must improve
on a clearer inspection. You say, he wants to have me, he certainly
will do me a great deal of honour and pleasure; but seriously, I have
taken a fancy to him, and tell you, in confidence, I have taken the
first step towards an advance. I do not know whether I shall succeed,
but this is fact.
He was at a very little distance from me, coming out of the Opera, and
I gave a rendezvous to the Marquis de ———, to sup on Friday at the
Lady Marechale’s, so loud that he might hear, which, I believe, is
the only house I can meet him in; and have not the least doubt but he
heard me. If the ungrateful wretch should not come—Tell me sincerely,
do you think he will? I protest if he does not, I shall be out of
temper the whole evening. You see he will not find so much _difficulty
in following me;_ and what will surprise you more is, he will find
less, in _pleasing me._. He says he will kill six horses in paying his
addresses to me; oh! the poor animals shall not die. I should never
have patience to wait so long. You know it is not my principle to make
any one languish, when once I am decided in their favour, as I really
am in his.
Now, you must agree, there is some pleasure in talking rationally to
me, has not your _important advice_ had great success; but what can I
do? I vegetate for a long time; it is more than six weeks since I have
permitted myself a gaiety; this is the first, how can I refuse it? Is
not the subject worth the trouble? Can there be any one more agreeable
in every sense of the word?
You are obliged to do him justice; you do more than praise him; you are
jealous of him. Well, I shall judge between you both, but first I must
take informations, and that is what I mean to do. Be assured I shall
be an upright judge; you shall be both weighed in the same scale;
for your part, I have already received your memorial, am entirely
acquainted with your affairs. Is it not reasonable that I should also
know your adversary’s case? Come, go through your business with a good
grace, and to begin, inform me, I beg of you, this triple adventure,
of which he is the hero. You talk to me as if I knew the whole matter,
who never heard a word of it. Probably it happened during the time of
my journey to Geneva, and your jealousy prevented you from giving me
an account of it. Repair this fault immediately; remember _that every
thing that_ interests him, _is of consequence to me_. I think it was
spoke of at my return; but I was so taken up with other matters, I
rarely pay attention to any thing of this kind that is not new.
If what I require should be even contrary to your inclination,
remember how much you are indebted to me for the cares and solicitude
I have had upon your account. Is it not to them you are indebted for
being now with your Presidente, when your own folly drove you from her?
Have I not put it in your power to be revenged of Madame de Volanges,
for her acrimonious zeal against you? How often have you deplored the
time you lost in search of adventures, now you have them at command?
Love, hatred, make your choice, they are under the same roof with you;
by doubling your existence, you can caress with the one hand, and
strike with the other.
It is to me even you are indebted, for the adventure of the
Viscountess—It pleases me. I agree with you it must be published, for
if the opportunity influenced you, as I am apt to think, to prefer
mystery to rumour; at that time must acknowledge, notwithstanding,
this woman does not deserve so handsome a procedure.
Moreover, I have reason to dislike her; the Chevalier de Belleroche
thinks her handsomer than me, and for several reasons I would be glad
to break off with her; there is none more plausible than to have a
story to relate, one cannot keep company with her after.
Farewell, Viscount! Remember that as you are situated, time is
precious: I will employ mine in thinking how to make Prevan happy.
_Sept._ 15, 17—.