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