Cleves went to Paris to make his Court, and promised his
lady to return the next day, but however he did not return till the day
after. "I expected you yesterday," said Madam de Cleves to him on his
arrival, "and I ought to chide you for not having come as you promised;
you know, if I was capable of feeling a new affliction in the condition
I am in, it would be the death of Madam de Tournon, and I have heard of
it this morning; I should have been concerned, though I had not known
her; it is a melting consideration to think that a lady so young and
handsome as she, should be dead in two days; but besides, she was the
person in the world that pleased me most, and who appeared to have
discretion equal to her beauty."

"I am sorry I could not return yesterday," replied the Prince of
Cleves, "but my presence was so necessary to the consolation of an
unhappy man, that it was impossible for me to leave him. As for Madam
de Tournon, I do not advise you not to be concerned for her, if you
lament her as a woman full of discretion, and worthy of your esteem."
"You surprise me," answered Madam de Cleves, "I have heard you say
several times, that there was not a lady at Court you had a greater
respect for." "It is true," replied he, "but women are
incomprehensible, and when I have seen them all, I think myself so
happy in having you, that I cannot enough admire my good fortune."
"You esteem me more than I deserve," answered Madam de Cleves, "you
have not had experience enough yet to pronounce me worthy of you; but
tell me, I beseech you, what it is has undeceived you with respect to
Madam de Tournon." "I have been undeceived a great while," replied he,
"and I know that she was in love with the Count de Sancerre, and that
she gave him room to hope she would marry him." "I can't believe,"
said Madam de Cleves, "that Madam de Tournon, after so extraordinary an
aversion as she has shown to marriage from the time she became a widow,
and after the public declarations she has made that she would never
marry again, should give hopes to Sancerre." "If she had given hopes
to him only," replied the Prince of Cleves, "the wonder had not been so
great; but what is surprising is, that she gave hopes likewise to
Etouteville at the same time: I'll let you know the whole history of
this matter."

II

"You know the friendship, there is betwixt Sancerre and me.
Nevertheless about two years ago he fell in love with Madam de Tournon,
and