justification; his conduct was the same the following days, and
wrought the same effect on the heart of Madam de Cleves.

At last the day of the tournament came; the Queens were placed in
the galleries that were prepared for them; the four champions
appeared at the end of the lists with a number of horses and
liveries, the most magnificent sight that ever was seen in
France.

The King's colours were white and black, which he always wore in
honour of the Duchess of Valentinois, who was a widow. The Duke
of Ferrara and his retinue had yellow and red. Monsieur de
Guise's carnation and white. It was not known at first for what
reason he wore those colours, but it was soon remembered that
they were the colours of a beautiful young lady whom he had been
in love with, while she was a maid, and whom he yet loved though
he durst not show it. The Duke de Nemours had yellow and black;
why he had them could not be found out: Madam de Cleves only knew
the reason of it; she remembered to have said before him she
loved yellow, and that she was sorry her complexion did not suit
that colour. As for the Duke, he thought he might take that
colour without any indiscretion, since not being worn by Madam de
Cleves it could not be suspected to be hers.

The four champions showed the greatest address that can be
imagined; though the King was the best horseman in his kingdom,
it was hard to say which of them most excelled. The Duke de
Nemours had a grace in all his actions which might have inclined
to his favour persons less interested than Madam de Cleves. She
no sooner saw him appear at the end of the lists, but her heart