Viscount de Valmont _to the_ Marchioness de Merteuil.
I don’t know, my charming friend, whether I have read or understood
badly your letter, the little tale you relate, and the epistolary model
it contains—But this I must say, the last is an original, and seems
very proper to take effect; therefore I only copied it, and sent it
without farther ceremony to the celestial Presidente. I did not lose
a moment, for the tender epistle was dispatched yesterday evening—I
chose to act so; for first, I had promised to write to her; and,
moreover, I thought a whole night not too much for her to collect
herself, and ruminate on _this grand event_, were you even to reproach
me a second time with the expression.
I expected to have sent you back this morning my well-beloved’s answer;
it is now near twelve, and it is not yet come—I shall wait until five;
and if I receive no news by that time, I shall in person seek it, for
every thing must be done according to form, and the difficulty is only
in this first step.
Now you may believe I am impatient to know the end of your story of
that man of your acquaintance, who was so violently suspected of not
knowing how to sacrifice a woman upon occasion—Did he not amend, and
did not his generous friend forgive him?
I am no less anxious to receive your ultimatum as you call it so
politically; but I am curious, above all, to know if you can perceive
any impression of love in this last proceeding? Ah! doubtless there
is, and a good deal! But for whom? Still I make no pretensions; I
expect every thing from your goodness.
Adieu, charmer! I shall not close my letter until two, in hope of
adding the wished-for answer.
_Two o’clock in the afternoon._
Nothing yet—the time slips away; I can’t spare a moment—but surely
now you will not refuse the tenderest kisses of love.
_Paris, Nov._ 27, 17—.