Madame de Volanges _to_ Madame de Rosemonde.
There are, my dear and worthy friend, the strangest and most sad
reports spread here, on account of Madam de Merteuil. I am certainly
far from giving any credit to them; and I would venture to lay a
wager, they are horrible slanders; but I know too well, how the most
improbable wickedness readily gains credit; and how difficult it is
to wipe away the impression they leave, not to be alarmed at those,
though I think them so easy to be refuted. I wish, especially, they
might be stopped in time, and before they spread abroad; but I did not
know until late yesterday, the horrible things that are given out; and
when I sent this morning to Madame de Merteuil’s, she was just then set
out for the country for a couple of days—I could not learn where she
was gone; her second woman, who I sent for, told me, her mistress had
only given her orders to expect her on Thursday next; and none of her
servants she left behind her knew any thing. I cannot even think where
she can be; as I do not recollect any of her acquaintance who stay so
late in the country.
However, you will be able, I hope, to procure for me, between this and
her return, some eclaircissements that may be useful to her; for these
odious stories are founded on circumstances attendant on the death of
M. de Valmont, of which you will probably have been informed, if there
be any truth in them; or you can at least readily receive information,
which I particularly request you to do—This is what is published, or
at least whispered as yet, but will not certainly fail to blaze out
more.
It is said the quarrel between M. de Valmont and Chevalier Danceny,
is the work of Madame de Merteuil, who deceived them both; and, as it
always happens, the rivals began by fighting, and did not come to an
eclaircissement until after, which produced a sincere reconciliation:
and in order to make M. de Merteuil known to Chevalier Danceny,
and also in his own justification, M. de Valmont had added to his
intelligence, a heap of letters, forming a regular correspondence which
he had kept up with her; in which she relates, in the loosest manner,
the most scandalous anecdotes of herself.
It is added, that Danceny in his first rage gave those letters to
whoever had a mind to see them; and that now they are all over
Paris—Two of them in particular, are quoted[1]; in one of which,
she gives a full history of her life and principles, which are said
to be the most shocking imaginable—the other contains an entire
justification of M. de Prevan, whose story you may recollect, by the
proofs it gives, that he did nothing but acquiesce in the most pointed
advances M. de Merteuil made him, and the rendezvous agreed on with her.
But I have fortunately the strongest reasons to believe those
imputations as false as they are odious. First, we both know that M. de
Valmont was not engaged about Madame de Merteuil; and I have all the
reason in the world to think, Danceny was as far from thinking of her:
so that I think it is demonstrable, that she could not be either the
cause or object of the quarrel. Neither can I comprehend what interest
M. de Merteuil could have, who is supposed to be combined with M. de
Prevan, to act a part which must be very disagreeable, by the noise it
would occasion, and might be very dangerous for her, because she would
thereby make an irreconcileable enemy of a man who was in possession of
a part of her secrets, and who had then many partizans.—Still it is
observable, since that adventure, not a single voice has been raised in
favour of Prevan, and that even there has not been the least objection
made on his side since.
Those reflections would induce me to suspect him to be the author of
the reports that are now spread abroad, and to look on those enormities
as the work of the revenge and hatred of a man who, finding himself
lost in the opinion of the world, hopes, by such means, at least to
raise doubts, and perhaps make a useful diversion in his favour; but
whatever cause they may proceed from, the best way will be to destroy
such abominable tales as soon as possible; they would have dropped
of themselves, if it should happen, as is very probable, that M. de
Valmont and Danceny did not speak to each other after their unhappy
affair, and that there had been no papers given.
Being impatient to be satisfied as to the truth of those facts, I sent
this morning to M, Danceny’s; he is not in Paris either; his servants
told my valet de chambre, he had set out last night, on some advice he
had received yesterday, and the place of his residence was a secret;
probably he dreads the consequence of his affair; it is only from
you then, my dear and worthy friend, I can learn such interesting
particulars, that may be necessary for M. de Merteuil—I renew my
request, and beg you will send them to me as soon as possible.
P. S. My daughter’s indisposition had no bad consequences. She presents
her respects.
_Paris, Dec._ 11, 17—.
[1] Letters lxxxi and lxxxv.