_The_ Viscount de Valmont _to the_ Chevalier Danceny.
If your affairs do not go on quite so rapidly as you wish, my dear
friend, it is not altogether my fault. I have many obstacles to
encounter here. Madame de Volanges’ vigilance and severity are not
the only ones; your young friend also throws some in my way. Whether
it proceeds from coldness, or timidity, she will not always do what
I advise her; and yet I think I should know better than she what is
proper to be done.
I had proposed an easy, commodious, and safe way of delivering your
letters to her, and even to smooth the way of the interviews you wish
for so much; but I have not been able to determine her to make use of
it. This gives me the more concern, as I can’t think of any other means
of bringing you together; and I am even incessantly terrified at the
danger we all three are exposed to on account of your correspondence;
you may then very well imagine, I do not choose to risk myself, nor
expose you both to it.
Still it would give me the greatest uneasiness, that your little
friend’s want of confidence in me should deprive me of the pleasure
of being useful to you; I think you would do well to write to her on
the subject. Act as you think proper; you are to determine; for it is
not enough that we serve our friends: we must serve them in the manner
the most pleasing to themselves. It might be also one other means of
ascertaining the degree of her affection for you; for the woman who
retains a will of her own, does not love to that degree she ought. Not
that I have any suspicion of her constancy: but she is very young; she
is in great awe of her mother, who you already know to be your enemy;
therefore it might be dangerous to suffer her to wain her mind from
you: however, I would not have you make yourself in the least uneasy,
as it is the solicitude of friendship only, and not any diffidence
whatever, that makes me so explicit.
I must break off, as I have some important matters of my own to attend.
I am not so far advanced as you are: but my passion is as ardent; that
is my consolation. And was I to be unsuccessful in my own, it would be
a pleasure to think, my time has been well employed if I can be useful
in yours. Adieu, my dear friend!
_Castle of_ ——, _Sept._ 26, 17—.