ause he had an affair to
communicate to her of great consequence to the Viscount de Chartres; he
explained in few words to the Prince the importance of this business,
and the Prince immediately introduced him into his lady's chamber. Had
she not been in the dark, she would have found it hard to have
concealed the trouble and astonishment she was in to see the Duke de
Nemours introduced by her husband. Monsieur de Cleves told her the
business was about a letter, wherein her assistance was wanting for the
interest of the Viscount, that she was to consult with Monsieur de
Nemours what was to be done; and that as for him he was going to the
King, who had just sent for him.

The Duke de Nemours had his heart's desire, in being alone with Madam
de Cleves; "I am come to ask you, Madam," said he, "if the
Queen-Dauphin has not spoke to you of a letter which Chatelart gave her
yesterday." "She said something to me of it," replied Madam de Cleves,
"but I don't see what relation this letter his to the interests of my
uncle, and I can assure you that he is not named in it." "It is true,
Madam," replied the Duke de Nemours, "he is not named in it but yet it
is addressed to him, and it very much imports him that you should get
it out of the Queen-Dauphin's hands." "I cannot comprehend," replied
the Princess, "how it should be of any consequence to him, if this
letter should be seen, nor what reason there is to redemand it in his
name." "If you please to be at leisure to hear me, Madam," said
Monsieur de Nemours, "I'll presently make you acquainted with the true
state of the thing, and inform you of matters of so great importance to
the Viscount, that I would not even have trusted the Prince of Cleves
with them, had I not stood in need of his assistance to have the honour
to see you." "I believe," said Madam de Cleves in a very unconcerned
manner, "that anything you may give yourself the trouble of telling me,
will be to little purpose; you had better go to the Queen-Dauphin, and
plainly tell her, without using these roundabout ways, the interest you
have in that letter, since she has been told, as well as I, that it
belongs to you."

The uneasiness of mind which Monsieur de Nemours observed in Madam de
Cleves gave him the most sensible pleasure he ever knew, and lessened
his impatience to justify himself: "I don't know, Madam," replied he,
"what the Queen-Dauphin may have been told; but I am not at all
concerned in that lett