eur and
Madam de Cleves were, he could not deny himself the pleasure of seeing
this Princess, nor resist the curiosity he had to hear her conversation
with a husband, who gave him more jealousy than any of his rivals. He
heard Monsieur de Cleves say to his wife, "But why will you not return
to Paris? What can keep you here in the country? You have of late
taken a fancy for solitude, at which I am both surprised and concerned,
because it deprives me of your company: I find too, you are more
melancholy than usual, and I am afraid you have some cause of grief."
"I have nothing to trouble my mind," answered she with an air of
confusion, "but there is such a bustle at Court, and such a multitude
of people always at your house, that it is impossible but both body and
mind should be fatigued, and one cannot but desire repose." "Repose,"
answered he, "is not very proper for one of your age; you are at home,
and at Court, in such a manner as cannot occasion weariness, and I am
rather afraid you desire to live apart from me." "You would do me
great wrong to think so," replied she with yet more confusion, "but I
beg you to leave me here; if you could stay here, and without company,
I should be very glad of it; nothing would be more agreeable to me than
your conversation in this retirement, provided you would approve not to
have about you that infinite number of people, who in a manner never
leave you." "Ah! Madam," cries Monsieur de Cleves, "both your looks
and words convince me that you have reasons to desire to be alone,
which I don't know; I conjure you to tell them me." He urged her a
great while to inform him, without being able to oblige her to it; and
after she had excused herself in a manner which still increased her
husband's curiosity, she continued in a deep silence, with her eyes
cast down then, taking up the discourse on a sudden, and looking upon
him, "Force me not," said she, "to confess a thing to you which I have
not the power to confess, though I have often designed it; remember
only, that it is not prudent a woman of my years, and mistress of her
own conduct, should remain exposed in the midst of a Court." "What is
it, Madam," cried Monsieur de Cleves, "that you lead me to imagine? I
dare not speak it, for fear of offending you." Madam de Cleves making
no answer, her silence confirmed her husband in what he thought; "You
say nothing to me," says he, "and that tells me clearly, that I am not
mistaken."