ties in his design of
marrying Mademoiselle de Chartres, that he gave over all hopes of
succeeding in it; and yet he was extremely afflicted to see her become
the wife of another: his grief however did not extinguish his passion;
and his love was as great as ever. Mademoiselle de Chartres was not
ignorant of it; and he made her sensible at his return, that she was
the cause of that deep melancholy which appeared in his countenance.
He had so much merit and so much agreeableness, that it was almost
impossible to make him unhappy without pitying him, nor could she
forbear pitying him; but her pity did not lead to love. She acquainted
her mother with the uneasiness which the Chevalier's passion gave her.

Madam de Chartres admired the honour of her daughter, and she admired
it with reason, for never was anyone more naturally sincere; but she
was surprised, at the same time, at the insensibility of her heart, and
the more so, when she found that the Prince of Cleves had not been able
to affect her any more than others: for this reason, she took great
pains to endear her husband to her, and to make her sensible how much
she owed to the affection he had for her before he knew her, and to the
tenderness he since expressed for her, by preferring her to all other
matches, at a time when no one else durst entertain the least thoughts
of her.

The marriage was solemnised at the Louvre; and in the evening the King
and the two Queens, with the whole Court, supped at Madam de Chartres's
house, where they were entertained with the utmost magnificence. The
Chevalier de Guise durst not distinguish himself by being absent from
the ceremony, but he was so little master of himself that it was easy
to observe his concern.

The Prince of Cleves did not find that Mademoiselle de Chartres had
changed her mind by changing her name; his quality of a husband
entitled him to the largest privileges, but gave him no greater share
in the affections of his wife: hence it was, that though he was her
husband, he did not cease to be her lover, because he had always
something to wish beyond what he possessed; and though she lived
perfectly easy with him, yet he was not perfectly happy. He preserved
for her a passion full of violence and inquietude, but without
jealousy, which had no share in his griefs. Never was husband less
inclined to it, and never was wife farther from giving the least
occasion for it. She was nevertheless constantly in view o