at either of those names, nor the discourse of their going along with her; this made him believe, it was not either of them whose presence she feared: in order to clear up his suspicions, he went into the queen's closet, where the king then was, and after having stayed there some time came back to his wife, and whispered her, that he had just heard the duke de Nemours was the person designed to go along with them to Spain.
The name of the duke de Nemours, and the thought of being exposed to see him every day, during a very long journey, in her husband's presence, so affected madam de Cleves, that she could not conceal her trouble: and being willing to give other reasons for it, No choice, says she, could have been made more disagreeable for you; he will share all honours with you, and I think you ought to endeavour to get some other chosen.—It is not honour, madam, reply'd monsieur de Cleves, that makes you apprehensive of the duke de Nemours's going with me, the uneasiness you are in proceeds from another cause; and from this uneasiness of yours I learn, that which I should have discovered in another woman by the joy she would have expressed on such an occasion; but be not afraid; what I have told you is not true, it was an invention of mine to assure myself of a thing which I already believed but too much. Having said this, he went out, being unwilling to increase, by his presence, the concern he saw his wife in.
The duke de Nemours came in that instant, and presently observed madam de Cleves's condition; he came up to her, and told her softly, he had that respect for her, he durst not ask what it was made her more pensive than usual. The voice of the duke de Nemours brought her to herself again, and looking at him, without having heard what he had said to her, full of her own thoughts, and afraid lest her husband should see him with her, For God's sake, says she, leave me to myself in quiet.—Alas! madam, answered he, I disturb you too little; what is it you can complain of? I dare not speak
