have deprived me of reason and courage, and to have rendered me so different from what I have been in all my other amours? It was fit I should pay a regard to madam de Cleves's grief; but I do it too long, and I give her leisure to extinguish the inclination she had for me.
After these reflections, he considered what measures he ought to take to see her; he found he had no longer any reason to conceal his passion from the viscount de Chartres; he resolved to speak to him of it, and to communicate to him his design with regard to his niece.
The viscount was then at Paris, the town being extremely full, and every body busy in preparing equipages and dresses to attend the king of Navarre, who was to conduct the queen of Spain: monsieur de Nemours, went to the viscount, and made an ingenuous confession to him of all he had concealed hitherto, except madam de Cleves's sentiments, which he would not seem to know.
The viscount received what he told him with a great deal of pleasure, and assured him, that though he was not acquainted with his sentiments on that subject, he had often thought, since madam de Cleves had been a widow, that she was the only lady that deserved him. Monsieur de Nemours intreated him to give him an opportunity of speaking to her, and learning what disposition she was in.
The viscount proposed to carry him to her house; but the duke was of opinion she would be shocked at it, because as yet she saw nobody; so that they agreed, it would be better for the viscount to ask her to come to him, under some pretence, and for the duke to come to them by a private stair-case, that he might not be observed. Accordingly this was executed; madam de Cleves came, the viscount went to receive her, and led her into a great closet at the end of his apartment: some time after monsieur de Nemours came in, as by chance: Madam de Cleves was in great surprize to see him; she
