rs turned about, and met full the eyes of Madam
de Cleves that were still fixed upon him; he thought it not impossible
but she might have seen what he had done.

Madam de Cleves was not a little perplexed; it was reasonable to demand
her picture of him; but to demand it publicly was to discover to the
whole world the sentiments which the Duke had for her, and to demand it
in private would be to engage him to speak of his love; she judged
after all it was better to let him keep it, and she was glad to grant
him a favour which she could do without his knowing that she granted
it. The Duke de Nemours, who observed her perplexity, and partly
guessed the cause of it, came up, and told her softly, "If you have
seen what I have ventured to do, be so good, Madam, as to let me
believe you are ignorant of it; I dare ask no more"; having said this
he withdrew, without waiting for her answer.

The Queen-Dauphin went to take a walk, attended with the rest of the
ladies; and the Duke de Nemours went home to shut himself up in his
closet, not being able to support in public the ecstasy he was in on
having a picture of Madam de Cleves; he tasted everything that was
sweet in love; he was in love with the finest woman of the Court; he
found she loved him against her will, and saw in all her actions that
sort of care and embarrassment which love produces in young and
innocent hearts.

At night great search was made for the picture; and having found the
case it used to be kept in, they never suspected it had been stolen but
thought it might have fallen out by chance. The Prince of Cleves was
very much concerned for the loss of it; and after having searched for
it a great while to no purpose, he told his wife, but with an air that
showed he did not think so, that without doubt she had some secret
lover, to whom she had given the picture, or who had stole it, and that
none but a lover would have been contented with the picture without the
case.

These words, though spoke in jest, made a lively impression in the mind
of Madam de Cleves; they gave her remorse, and she reflected on the
violence of her inclination which hurried her on to love the Duke of
Nemours; she found she was no longer mistress of her words or
countenance; she imagined that Lignerolles was returned, that she had
nothing to fear from the affair of England, nor any cause to suspect
the Queen-Dauphin; in a word, that she had no refuge or defence against
the Duke de Nemo