les?" "There are no
obstacles, Madam," replied Monsieur de Nemours; "it is you alone oppose
my happiness; you impose on yourself a law which virtue and reason do
not require you to obey." "'Tis true," says she, "I sacrifice a great
deal to a duty which does not subsist but in my imagination; have
patience, and expect what time may produce; Monsieur de Cleves is but
just expired, and that mournful object is too near to leave me clear
and distinct views; in the meantime enjoy the satisfaction to know you
have gained the heart of a person who would never have loved anyone,
had she not seen you: believe the inclination I have for you will last
forever, and that it will be uniform and the same, whatever becomes of
me: Adieu," said she; "this is a conversation I ought to blush for;
however, give an account of it to the Viscount; I agree to it, and
desire you to do it."

With these words she went away, nor could Monsieur de Nemours detain
her. In the next room she met with the Viscount, who seeing her under
so much concern would not speak to her, but led her to her coach
without saying a word; he returned to Monsieur de Nemours, who was so
full of joy, grief, admiration, and of all those affections that attend
a passion full of hope and fear, that he had not the use of his reason.
It was a long time ere the Viscount could get from him an account of
the conversation; at last the Duke related it to him, and Monsieur de
Chartres, without being in love, no less admired the virtue, wit and
merit of Madam de Cleves, than did Monsieur de Nemours himself; they
began to examine what issue could reasonably be hoped for in this
affair; and however fearful the Duke de Nemours was from his love, he
agreed with the Viscount, that it was impossible Madam de Cleves should
continue in the resolution she was in; they were of opinion
nevertheless that it was necessary to follow her orders, for fear, upon
the public's perceiving the inclination he had for her, she should make
declarations and enter into engagements with respect to the world, that
she would afterwards abide by, lest it should be thought she loved him
in her husband's lifetime.

Monsieur de Nemours determined to follow the King; it was a journey he
could not well excuse himself from, and so he resolved to go without
endeavouring to see Madam de Cleves again from the window out of which
he had sometimes seen her; he begged the Viscount to speak to her; and
what did he not desir