byMme。deLafayetteIntroductionbyOliverC。ColtThisstorywaswrittenbyMadamedeLafayetteandpublishedanonymouslyin1662。Itissetinaperiodalmost100yearspreviouslyduringthesanguinarywarsofthecounter-reformation，whentheCatholicrulersofEurope，withtheencouragementofthePapacy，werebentonextirpatingthefollowersofthecreedsofLutherandCalvin。Iamnotqualifiedtoembarkonahistoricalanalysis，andshalldonomorethansaythatmanyofthepersonswhoareinvolvedinthetaleactuallyexisted，andtheeventsreferredtoactuallytookplace。TheweakandviciousKingandhismalignandunscrupulousmotherarerealenough，asisaDucdeMontpensier，aPrinceoftheBlood，whoachievedsomenotorietyforthecrueltywithwhichhetreatedanyHuguenotswhofellintohishands，andfortheleadershiphegavetotheassassinsduringtheatrociousmassacreofSt。Bartholomew'sday。
　　Hewasmarriedandhadprogeny，butthewomantowhomhewasmarriedwasnottheheroineofthisromance，whoisafictionalcharacter，asistheComtedeChabannes。
　　TheDucdeGuiseoftheperiodwhosefatherhadbeenkilledfightingagainsttheprotestants，didmarrythePrincessdePortein，butthiswasforpoliticalreasonsandnottosatisfythewishesofaPrincessdeMontpensier。
　　Itwillbenoticed，Ithink，thatwomenweretradedinmarriagewithlittleornoregardtotheirpersonalemotions，andnodoubt，ashasbeenremarkedbyothers，marriageswithoutloveencouragedloveoutsidemarriage。Whateverthereality，theliteraryconventionsofthetimeseemtohavedictatedthatweshouldbetreatedonlytoardentglances，ferventdeclarations，swooningsandcourtlygestures，wearenotledeventothebedroomdoor，letalonetheamorouscouch。Iwonder，however，ifthereadermightnotthinkthatthislittletalewrittenmorethanthreehundredyearsagocontainstheelementsofmanyoftheromanticnovelsandsoapoperaswhichhavefollowedit。
　　Atonelevelitisacautionarytaleabouttheconsequencesofmaritalinfidelity;atanotheritisastoryofawomanbetrayed，treatedasaprettybaubleforthegratificationofmen，andcastasidewhenshehasservedherpurpose，orabutterflytrappedinanetwovenbyuncaringfate。Herendisrathertoocontrivedformoderntaste，but，eventoday，characterswhoareabouttobewrittenoutoftheplotinsoapoperasaresometimessmittenbymysteriousandfataldisordersofthebrain。
　　TheunfortunateComtedeChabannesisthearchtypical"decentchap"Thefaithfulbutrejectedswainwhosacrificeshimselfforthewelfareofhisbelovedwithoutexpectationofreward。Inthehandsofanotherwriter，withsomemodification，hecouldhaveprovidedahappyendinginthe"MillsandBoon"tradition。
　　Thistranslationisnotaschoolroomexercise，foralthoughI
　　havenotalteredthestory，Ihavealteredtheexactwayinwhichitistoldintheoriginal，withtheaimofmakingitmoreacceptabletothemodernreader。Alltranslationmustinvolveparaphrase，forwhatsoundswellinonelanguagemaysoundridiculousiftranslatedliterallyintoanother，anditisforthetranslatortodecidehowfarthisprocessmaybecarried。
　　WhetherIhavesucceededinmytask，onlythereadercansay。
　　ThePrincessdeMontpensierByMadamedeLafayetteTranslatedbyOliverC。ColtItwaswhilethecivilwarofreligionwastearingFranceapartthattheonlydaughteroftheMarquisofMezieres，averyconsiderableheiress，bothbecauseofherwealthandtheillustrioushouseofAnjoufromwhichshewasdescended，waspromisedinmarriagetotheDucdeMaine，theyoungerbrotheroftheDucdeGuise。
　　Themarriagewasdelayedbecauseoftheyouthofthisheiress，buttheelderofthebrothers，theDucdeGuise，whosawmuchofher，andwhosawalsotheburgeoningofwhatwastobecomeagreatbeauty，fellinlovewithherandwaslovedinreturn。Theyconcealedtheirfeelingswithgreatcare;theDucdeGuise，whohadnotyetbecomeasambitiousashewastobecomelater，wanteddesperatelytomarryher，butfearofangeringhisuncle，theCardinaldeLorraine，whohadtakentheplaceofhisdeadfather，preventedhimfrommakinganydeclaraton。
　　ThiswashowthematterstoodwhentherulinghouseofBourbon，whocouldnotbeartoseeanybenefitaccruingtothatofdeGuise，decidedtostepinandreaptheprofitthemselvesbymarryingthisheiresstothePrincedeMontpensier。
　　ThisprojectwaspursuedwithsuchvigourthattheparentsofMlle。deMezieres，despitethepromisesgiventotheCardinaldeLorraine，resolvedtogiveherinmarriagetotheyoungPrince。
　　ThehouseofdeGuisewasmuchdispleasedatthis，buttheDuchimselfwasovercomebygrief，andregardedthisasaninsupportableaffront。Inspiteofwarningsfromhisuncles，theCardinalandtheDucdeAumale——whodidnotwishtostandinthewayofsomethingwhichtheycouldnotprevent——heexpressedhimselfwithsomuchviolence，eveninthepresenceofthePrincedeMontpensier，thatamutualenmityarosebetweenthemwhichlastedalltheirlives。
　　Mlle。deMezieres，urgedbyherparentstomarrythePrince，realisedthatitwasimpossibleforhertomarrytheDucdeGuise，andthatifshemarriedhisbrother，theDucdeMaine，shewouldbeinthedangerouspositionofhavingasabrother-in-lawamanwhomshewishedwasherhusband;sosheagreedfinallytomarrythePrinceandbeggedtheDucdeGuisenottocontinuetoplaceanyobstacleintheway。
　　Themarriagehavingtakenplace，thePrincedeMontpensiertookherofftohisestateofChampigny，whichwaswherePrincesofhisfamilyusuallylived，inordertoremoveherfromParis，whereitseemedthatanoutbreakoffightingwasimminent：thisgreatcitybeingunderthreatofsiegebyaHuguenotarmyledbythePrincedeConde，whohadoncemoredeclaredwarontheKing。
　　ThePrincedeMontpensierhad，whenaveryyoungman，formedaclosefriendshipwiththeComtedeChabannes，amanconsiderablyolderthanhimselfandofexemplarycharacter。TheComteinturnhadbeensomuchinfluencedbytheesteemandfriendshipofthePrincethathehadbrokenoffinfluentialconnectionswhichhehadwiththePrincedeCondeeandhaddeclaredfortheCatholics;
　　achangeofsideswhich，havingnootherfoundation，wasregardedwithsuspicion：somuchsothattheQueenMother，CatherinedeMedici，onthedeclarationofwarbytheHuguenots，proposedtohavehimimprisoned。ThePrincedeMontpensierpreventedthisandcarriedhimawaytoChampignywhenhewenttherewithhiswife。
　　TheComtebeingaverypleasant，amiablemansoongainedtheapprobationofthePrincessandbeforelongsheregardedhimwithasmuchfriendshipandconfidenceasdidherhusband。Chabannes，forhispart，observedwithadmirationthebeauty，senseandmodestyoftheyoungPrincess，andusedwhatinfluencehehadtoinstillinherthoughtsandbehavioursuitedtoherelevatedposition;sothatunderhisguidanceshebecameoneofthemostaccomplishedwomenofhertime。
　　ThePrincehavinggonebacktotheCourt，wherehewasneededowingtothecontinuationofthewar，theComtelivedalonewiththePrincessandcontinuedtotreatherwiththerespectduetoherrankandposition。ThePrincesstookhimsofarintoherconfidenceastotellhimofthefeelingsshehadoncehadfortheDucdeGuise，butsheintimatedthatthereremainedonlyenoughofthisemotiontopreventherheartfromstrayingelsewhereandthatthisremnant，togetherwithherwifelyvirtuemadeitimpossibleforhertorespond，exceptwitharebuff，toanypossiblesuitor。
　　TheComtewhorecognisedhersincerityandwhosawinheracharacterwhollyopposedtoflirtationandgallantry，didnotdoubtthetruthofherwords;butneverthelesshewasunabletoresistallthecharmswhichhesawdailysoclosetohim。HefelldeeplyinlovewiththePrincess，inspiteoftheshamehefeltatallowinghimselftobeovercomebythisillicitpassion。
　　Howeveralthoughnotmasterofhisheart，hewasmasterofhisactions;thechangeinhisemotionsdidnotshowatallinhisbehaviour，andnoonesuspectedhim。Hetook，forawholeyear，scrupulouscaretohidehisfeelingsfromthePrincessandbelievedthathewouldalwaysbeabletodoso。
　　Love，however，hadthesameeffectonhimasitdoesoneveryone，helongedtospeakofit，andafterallthestruggleswhichareusuallymadeonsuchoccasions，hedaredtotellherofhisdevotion。Hehadbeenpreparedtoweatherthestormofreproachwhichthismightarouse，buthewasgreetedwithacalmandacoolnesswhichwasathousandtimesworsethantheoutburstwhichhehadexpected。Shedidnottakethetroubletobeangry。Shepointedoutinafewwordsthedifferenceintheirrankandages，sheremindedhimofwhatshehadpreviouslysaidaboutherattitudetosuitorsandabovealltothedutyheowedtotheconfidenceandfriendshipofthePrinceherhusband。TheComtewasoverwhelmedbyshameanddistress。Shetriedtoconsolehimbyassuringhimthatshewouldforgetentirelywhathehadjustsaidtoherandwouldalwayslookonhimasherbestfriend;
　　assuranceswhichweresmallconsolationtotheComteasonemightimagine。HefeltthedisdainwhichwasimplicitinallthatthePrincesshadsaid，andseeingherthenextdaywithhercustomaryuntroubledlooksredoubledhismisery。
　　ThePrincesscontinuedtoshowhimthesamegoodwillasbeforeandevendiscussedherformerattachmenttotheDucdeGuise，sayingthatshewaspleasedthathisincreasingfameshowedthathewasworthyoftheaffectionshehadoncehadforhim。Thesedemonstrationsofconfidence，whichwereoncesodeartotheComte，henowfoundinsupportable，buthedidnotdaresayasmuchtothePrincess，thoughhedidsometimesremindherofwhathehadsorashlyconfessedtoher。
　　Afteranabsenceoftwoyears，peacehavingbeendeclared，thePrincedeMontpensierreturnedtohiswife，hisrenownenhancedbyhisbehaviouratthesiegeofParisandthebattleofSt。Denis。HewassurprisedtofindthebeautyofthePrincessbloominginsuchperfection，andbeingofanaturallyjealousdispositionhewasalittleputoutofhumourbytherealisationthatthisbeautywouldbedisplayedtoothersbesidehimself。HewasdelightedtoseeoncemoretheComte，forwhomhisaffectionwasinnowaydiminished。Heaskedhimforconfidentialdetailsabouthiswife'scharacterandtemperament，forshewasalmostastrangertohimbecauseofthelittletimeduringwhichtheyhadlivedtogether。TheComte，withtheutmostsincerity，asifhehimselfwerenotenamoured，toldthePrinceeverythingheknewaboutthePrincesswhichwouldencourageherhusband'sloveofher，andhealsosuggestedtoMadamedeMontpensierallthemeasuresshemighttaketowintheheartandrespectofherspouse。TheComte'sdevotionledhimtothinkofnothingbutwhatwouldincreasethehappinessandwell-beingofthePrincessandtoforgetwithoutdifficultytheinterestwhichloversusuallyhaveinstirringuptroublebetweentheobjectsoftheiraffectionandtheirmaritalpartners。
　　Thepeacewasonlyshortlived。WarsoonbrokeoutagainbyreasonofaplotbytheKingtoarrestthePrincedeCondeeandAdmiralChatillonatNoyers。AsaresultofthemilitarypreparationsthePrincedeMontpensierwasforcedtoleavehiswifeandreportforduty。Chabannes，whohadbeenrestoredtotheQueen'sfavour，wentwithhim。ItwasnotwithoutmuchsorrowthatheleftthePrincess，whileshe，forherpart，wasdistressedtothinkoftheperilstowhichthewarmightexposeherhusband。
　　TheleadersoftheHuguenotsretiredtoLaRochelle。TheyheldPoitouandSaintongne;thewarflaredupagainandtheKingassembledallhistroops。Hisbrother，theDucd'Anjou，wholaterbecameHenriIII，distinguishedhimselfbyhisdeedsinvariousactions，amongstothersthebattleofJarnac，inwhichthePrincedeCondeewaskilled。ItwasduringthisfightingthattheDucdeGuisebegantoplayamoreimportantpartandtodisplaysomeofthegreatqualitieswhichhadbeenexpectedofhim。ThePrincedeMontpensier，whohatedhim，notonlyasapersonalenemybutasanenemyofhisfamily，theBourbons，tooknopleasureinhissuccessesnorinthefriendlinessshowntowardhimbytheDucd'Anjou。
　　Afterthetwoarmieshadtiredthemselvesoutinaseriesofminoractions，bycommonconsenttheywerestooddownforatime。
　　TheDucd'AnjoustayedatLochestorestoretoorderalltheplaceswhichhadbeenattacked。TheDucdeGuisestayedwithhimandthePrincedeMontpensier，accompaniedbytheComtedeChabannes，wentbacktoChampigny，whichwasnotfaraway。
　　TheDucd'Anjoufrequentlywenttoinspectplaceswherefortificationswerebeingconstructed。OnedaywhenhewasreturningtoLochesbyaroutewhichhisstaffdidnotknowwell，theDucdeGuise，whoclaimedtoknowtheway，wenttotheheadofthepartytoactasguide，butafteratimehebecamelostandarrivedatthebankofasmallriverwhichhedidnotrecognise。
　　TheDucd'Anjouhadafewwordstosaytohimforleadingthemastray，butwhiletheywerehelduptheretheysawalittleboatfloatingontheriver，inwhich——therivernotbeingverywide——
　　theycouldseethefiguresofthreeorfourwomen，oneofwhom，veryprettyandsumptuouslydressed，waswatchingwithinteresttheactivitiesoftwomenwhowerefishingnearby。
　　ThisspectaclecreatedsomethingofasensationamongstthePrincesandtheirsuite。Itseemedtothemlikeanepisodefromaromance。SomedeclaredthatitwasfatethathadledtheDucdeGuisetobringthemtheretoseethislovelylady，andthattheyshouldnowpaycourttoher。TheDucd'Anjoumaintainedthatitwashewhoshouldbehersuitor。
　　Topushthematterabitfurther，theymadeoneofthehorsemengointotheriverasfarashecouldandshouttotheladythatitwastheDucd'Anjouwhowishedtocrosstotheotherbankandwhobeggedtheladytotakehiminherboat。Thelady，whowasofcoursethePrincessdeMontpensier，hearingthatitwastheDucd'Anjou，andhavingnodoubtwhenshesawthesizeofhissuitethatitwasindeedhim，tookherboatovertothebankwherehewas。Hisfinefiguremadehimeasilydistinguishablefromtheothers，she，however，distinguishedevenmoreeasilythefigureoftheDucdeGuise。ThissightdisturbedherandcausedhertoblushalittlewhichmadeherseemtothePrincestohaveanalmostsupernaturalbeauty。
　　TheDucdeGuiserecognisedherimmediatelyinspiteofthechangeswhichhadtakenplaceinherappearanceinthethreeyearssincehehadlastseenher。HetoldtheDucd'AnjouwhoshewasandtheDucwasatfirstembarrassedatthelibertyhehadtaken，butthen，struckbythePrincess'sbeauty，hedecidedtoventurealittlefurther，andafterathousandexcusesandathousandcomplimentsheinventedaseriousmatterwhichrequiredhispresenceontheoppositebank，andacceptedtheofferwhichshemadeofapassageinherboat。Hegotin，accompaniedonlybytheDucdeGuise，givingorderstohissuitetocrosstheriverelsewhereandtojoinhimatChampigny，whichMadamedeMontpensiertoldhimwasnotmorethantwoleaguesfromthere。
　　AssoonastheywereintheboattheDucd'Anjouaskedtowhattheyowedthissopleasantencounter。MadamedeMontpensierrepliedthathavingleftChampignywiththePrinceherhusbandwiththeintentionoffollowingthehunt，shehadbecometiredandhavingreachedtheriverbankshehadgoneoutintheboattowatchthelandingofasalmonwhichhadbeencaughtinanet。TheDucdeGuisedidnottakepartinthisconversation，buthewasconsciousofthere-awakeningofalltheemotionswhichthePrincesshadoncearousedinhim，andthoughttohimselfthathewouldhavedifficultyinescapingfromthismeetingwithoutfallingoncemoreunderherspell。
　　TheyarrivedshortlyatthebankwheretheyfoundthePrincess'shorsesandherattendantswhohadbeenwaitingforher。Thetwonoblemenhelpedherontoherhorsewhereshesatwiththegreatestelegance。DuringtheirjourneybacktoChampignytheytalkedagreeablyaboutanumberofsubjectsandhercompanionswerenolesscharmedbyherconversationthantheyhadbeenbyherbeauty。Theyofferedheranumberofcomplimentstowhichsherepliedwithbecomingmodesty，butalittlemorecoollytothosefromM。deGuise，forshewishedtomaintainadistancewhichwouldpreventhimfromfoundinganyexpectationsonthefeelingsshehadoncehadtowardshim。
　　WhentheyarrivedattheoutercourtyardofChampignytheyencounteredthePrincedeMontpensier，whohadjustreturnedfromthehunt。Hewasgreatlyastonishedtoseetwomeninthecompanyofhiswife，andhewasevenmoreastonishedwhen，oncomingcloser，hesawthattheseweretheDucd'AnjouandtheDucdeGuise。Thehatredwhichheboreforthelatter，combinedwithhisnaturallyjealousdispositionmadehimfindthesightofthesetwoPrinceswithhiswife，withoutknowinghowtheycametobethereorwhytheyhadcometohishouse，sodisagreeablethathewasunabletoconcealhisannoyance。He，however，adroitlyputthisdowntoafearthathecouldnotreceivesomightyaPrinceastheKing'sbrotherinastylebefittinghisrank。TheComtedeChabanneswasevenmoreupsetatseeingtheDucdeGuiseandMadamedeMontpensiertogetherthanwasherhusband，itseemedtohimamostevilchancewhichhadbroughtthetwoofthemtogetheragain，anaugurywhichforetolddisturbingsequelstofollowthisnewbeginning。
　　IntheeveningMadamedeMontpensieractedashostesswiththesamegracewithwhichshedideverything。Infactshepleasedherguestsalittletoomuch。TheDucd'Anjouwhowasveryhandsomeandverymuchaladiesman，couldnotseeaprizesomuchworthwinningwithoutwishingardentlytomakeithisown。HehadatouchofthesamesicknessastheDucdeGuise，andcontinuingtoinventimportantreasons，hestayedfortwodaysatChampigny，withoutbeingobligedtodosobyanythingbutthecharmsofMadamedeMontpensier，forherhusbanddidnotmakeanynoticeableefforttodetainhim。TheDucdeGuisedidnotleavewithoutmakingitcleartoMadamedeMontpensierthathefelttowardsherashehaddoneinthepast。Asnobodyknewofthisformerrelationshiphesaidtoherseveraltimes，infrontofeverybody，thathisaffectionswereinnowaychanged。Aremarkwhichonlysheunderstood。
　　BothheandtheDucd'AnjouleftChampignywithregret。Foralongtimetheywentalonginsilence;butatlastitoccurredtotheDucd'AnjouthatthereflectionswhichoccupiedhisthoughtsmightbeechoedinthemindoftheDucdeGuise，andheaskedhimbrusquelyifhewasthinkingaboutthebeautiesofMadamedeMontpensier。ThisbluntquestioncombinedwithwhathehadalreadyobservedofthePrince'sbehaviourmadetheDucrealisethathehadarivalfromwhomitwasessentialthathisownloveforthePrincessshouldbeconcealed。InordertoallayallsuspicionheansweredwithalaughthatthePrincehimselfhadseemedsopreoccupiedwiththethoughtswhichhewasaccusedofhavingthathehaddeemeditinadvisabletointerrupthim;thebeautyofMadamedeMontpensierwas，hesaid，nothingnewtohim，hehadbeenusedtodiscountingitseffectsincethedayswhenshewasdestinedtobehissister-in-law，buthesawthatnoteveryonewassolittledazzled。TheDucd'AnjouadmittedthathehadneverseenanyonetocomparewiththisyoungPrincessandthathewaswellawarethatthevisionmightbedangerousifhewasexposedtoittoooften。HetriedtogettheDucdeGuisetoconfessthathefeltthesame，buttheDucwouldadmittonothing。
　　OntheirreturntoLochestheyoftenrecalledwithpleasuretheeventswhichhadledtotheirmeetingwiththePrincessdeMontpensier，asubjectwhichdidnotgiverisetothesamepleasureatChampigny。ThePrincedeMontpensierwasdissatisfiedwithallthathadhappenedwithoutbeingabletosaypreciselywhy。Hefoundfaultwithhiswifeforbeingintheboat。HeconsideredthatshehadwelcomedthePrincestooreadily;andwhatdispleasedhimmostwasthathehadnoticedtheattentionpaidtoherbytheDucdeGuise。ThishadprovokedinhimafuriousboutofjealousyinwhichherecalledtheangerdisplayedbytheDucattheprospectofhismarriage，whichcausedhimtosuspectthatevenatthattimetheDucwasinlovewithhiswife。
　　TheComtedeChabannesasusualmadeeveryefforttoactaspeacemaker，hopinginthiswaytoshowthePrincessthathisdevotiontoherwassincereanddisinterested。HecouldnotresistaskingherwhateffectthesightoftheDucdeGuisehadproduced。Sherepliedthatshehadbeensomewhatupsetandembarrassedatthememoryofthefeelingsshehadoncedisplayedtohim;shefoundhimmorehandsomethanhehadbeenthenandithadseemedtoherthathewishedtopersuadeherthathestilllovedher，butsheassuredtheComtethatnothingwouldshakeherdeterminationnottobecomeinvolvedinanyintrigue。TheComtewashappytohearofthisresolve，buthewasfarfrombeingsureabouttheDucdeGuise。HeearnestlywarnedthePrincessofthedangerofareturntotheprevioussituationshouldshehaveanychangeofheart，thoughwhenhespokeofhisdevotionsheadoptedherinvariableattitudeoflookingonhimasherclosestfriendbutinnowayapossiblesuitor。
　　Thearmieswereoncemorecalledup;allthePrincesreturnedtotheirpostsandthePrincedeMontpensierdecidedthathiswifeshouldcomewithhimtoParissoastobefurtherfromtheareawhereitwasexpectedthatfightingwouldtakeplace。TheHuguenotsbesiegedPoitiers。TheDucdeGuisewenttheretoorganisethedefenceand，whilethere，enhancedhisreputationbyhisconduct。TheDucd'Anjousufferedfromsomeillness，andleftthearmyeitheronaccountoftheseverityofthisorbecausehewantedtoreturntothecomfortandsecurityofParis，wherethepresenceofthePrincessdeMontpensierwasnottheleastoftheattractions。ThecommandofthearmywastakenoverbythePrincedeMontpensier，andshortlyafterthis，apeacehavingbeenarranged，theCourtassembledinParis。HerethebeautyofthePrincesseclipsedthatofallherrivals。Shecharmedeveryonebyherlooksandpersonality。TheDucd'AnjoudidnotabandonthesentimentsshehadinspiredinhimatChampigny，hetookgreatcaretomakeherawareofthisbyallsortsofdelicateconsiderations，beingcarefulatthesametimenottomakehisattentionstooobviousforfearofarousingthejealousyofherhusband。TheDucdeGuisewasnowferventlyinlovewithher，butwishing，foravarietyofreasons，tokeepthissecret，heresolvedtotellhersoprivatelyandavoidanypreliminarieswhich，asalways，wouldgiverisetotalkandexposure。OnedaywhenhewasintheQueen'sapartmentswheretherewereveryfewpeople，theQueenhavinglefttodiscussaffairsofstatewithCardinaldeLorraine，thePrincessdeMontpensierarrived。Hedecidedtotakethisopportunitytospeaktoher，andgoinguptoherhesaid，"Althoughitmaysurpriseanddispleaseyou，IwantyoutoknowthatIhavealwaysfeltforyouthatemotionwhichyouonceknewsowell，andthatitspowerhasbeensogreatlyincreasedbyseeingyouagainthatneitheryourdisapproval，thehatredofyourhusband，northerivalryofthefirstPrinceinthekingdomcanintheleastdiminishit。Itwouldperhapshavebeenmoretactfultohaveletyoubecomeawareofthisbymybehaviourratherthanbymywords，butmybehaviourwouldhavebeenevidenttoothersaswellastoyourselfandIwantedyoualonetoknowofmyloveforyou。"
　　ThePrincesswassosurprisedandthrownintoconfusionbythisspeechthatshecouldnotthinkofananswer，then，justwhenshehadcollectedherwitsandbeguntoreply，thePrincedeMontpensierenteredtheroom。ThePrincess'sfacedisplayedheragitation，andherembarrassmentwascompoundedbythesightofherhusband，tosuchanextentthathewasleftinnodoubtaboutwhattheDucdeGuisehadbeensayingtoher。FortunatelyatthatmomenttheQueenre-enteredtheroomandtheDucdeGuisemovedawaytoavoidthejealousPrince。
　　ThateveningthePrincessfoundherhusbandintheworsttemperimaginable。HeberatedherwiththeutmostviolenceandforbadeherevertospeaktotheDucdeGuiseagain。Sheretiredtoherroomverysadandmuchpreoccupiedwiththeeventsoftheday。
　　ShesawtheDucthenextdayamidthecompanyaroundtheQueen，buthedidnotcomenearherandleftsoonaftershedid，indicatingthathehadnointerestinremainingifshewasnotthere。NotadaypassedwithoutherreceivingathousandcovertmarksoftheDuc'spassionthoughhedidnotattempttospeaktoherunlesshewassurethattheycouldbeseenbynobody。
　　ConvincedoftheDuc'ssincerity，thePrincess，inspiteoftheresolutionshehadmadeatChampigny，begantofeelinthedepthsofherheartsomethingofwhatshehadfeltinthepast。
　　TheDucd'Anjouforhispart，omittednothingwhichcoulddemonstratehisdevotioninalltheplaceswherehecouldmeether。IntheQueenhismother'sapartmentshefollowedheraboutcontinually，completelyignoringhissisterwhowasveryfondofhim。Itwasataroundthistimethatitbecameevidentthatthissister，wholaterbecametheQueenofNavarre，hadalikingfortheDucdeGuise，andanotherthingthatbecameevidentwasacoolingofthefriendshipbetweenthatDucandtheDucd'Anjou。
　　TherumourlinkingthenameoftheRoyalPrincesswiththatoftheDucdeGuisedisturbedThePrincessdeMontpensiertoadegreewhichsurprisedher，andmadeherrealisethatshewasmoreinterestedintheDucthanshehadsupposed。
　　Nowitsohappenedthatherfather-in-law，M。deMontpensier，marriedasisteroftheDucdeGuise，andtheprincesswasboundtomeettheDucfrequentlyinthevariousplaceswherethemarriagecelebrationsrequiredtheirpresence。Shewasgreatlyoffendedthatamanwhowaswidelybelievedtobeinlovewith"Madame"，theKing'ssister，shoulddaretomakeadvancestoher，shewasnotonlyoffendedbutdistressedathavingdeceivedherself。
　　Oneday，whentheymetathissister'shouse，beingalittleseparatedfromherest，theDucwastemptedtospeaktoher，butsheinterruptedhimsharplysayingangrily"Idonotunderstandhow，onthebasisofaweaknesswhichonehadattheageofthirteen，youhavetheaudacitytomakeamorousproposalstoapersonlikeme，particularlywhen，intheviewofthewholeCourt，youareinterestedinsomeoneelse。"TheDucwhowasintelligentaswellasbeingmuchinlove，understoodtheemotionwhichunderlaythePrincess'swords。Heansweredhermostrespectfully，"Iconfess，Madame，thatitwaswrongofmenottorejectthepossiblehonourofbecomingtheKing'sbrother-in-law，ratherthanallowyoutosuspectforamomentthatIcoulddesireanyheartbutyours;butifyouwillbepatientenoughtohearmeIamsureIcanfullyjustifymybehaviour。"ThePrincessmadenoreply，butshedidnotgoawayandtheDuc，seeingthatshewaspreparedtolistentohim，toldherthatalthoughhehadmadenoefforttoattracttheattentionofMadame，shehadneverthelesshonouredhimwithherinterest：ashewasnotenamouredofherhehadrespondedverycoollytothishonouruntilshegavehimtobelievethatshemightmarryhim。Therealisationofthegrandeurtowhichsuchamarriagewouldraisehimhadobligedhimtotakealittlemoretrouble。ThissituationhadarousedthesuspicionsoftheKingandtheDucd'Anjou，buttheoppositionofneitherofthenwouldhaveanyeffectonhiscourseofaction，howeverifthisdispleasedherhewouldabandonallsuchnotionsandneverthinkofthemagain。