The Princess of Cleves - Page 47/118

The Queen-Dauphin asked Monsieur de Cleves for a little picture he had

of his wife's, to compare it with that which was just drawn; everybody

gave their judgment of the one and the other; and Madam de Cleves

ordered the painter to mend something in the headdress of that which

had been just brought in; the painter in obedience to her took the

picture out of the case in which it was, and having mended it laid it

again on the table.

The Duke de Nemours had long wished to have a picture of Madam de

Cleves; when he saw that which Monsieur de Cleves had, he could not

resist the temptation of stealing it from a husband, who, he believed,

was tenderly loved; and he thought that among so many persons as were

in the same room he should be no more liable to suspicion than another.

The Queen-Dauphin was sitting on the bed, and whispering to Madam de

Cleves, who was standing before her. Madam de Cleves, through one of

the curtains that was but half-drawn, spied the Duke de Nemours with

his back to the table, that stood at the bed's feet, and perceived that

without turning his face he took something very dextrously from off the

table; she presently guessed it was her picture, and was in such

concern about it, that the Queen-Dauphin observed she did not attend to

what she said, and asked her aloud what it was she looked at. At those

words, the Duke de Nemours turned about, and met full the eyes of Madam

de Cleves that were still fixed upon him; he thought it not impossible

but she might have seen what he had done.

Madam de Cleves was not a little perplexed; it was reasonable to demand

her picture of him; but to demand it publicly was to discover to the

whole world the sentiments which the Duke had for her, and to demand it

in private would be to engage him to speak of his love; she judged

after all it was better to let him keep it, and she was glad to grant

him a favour which she could do without his knowing that she granted

it. The Duke de Nemours, who observed her perplexity, and partly

guessed the cause of it, came up, and told her softly, "If you have

seen what I have ventured to do, be so good, Madam, as to let me

believe you are ignorant of it; I dare ask no more"; having said this

he withdrew, without waiting for her answer.

The Queen-Dauphin went to take a walk, attended with the rest of the

ladies; and the Duke de Nemours went home to shut himself up in his

closet, not being able to support in public the ecstasy he was in on

having a picture of Madam de Cleves; he tasted everything that was

sweet in love; he was in love with the finest woman of the Court; he

found she loved him against her will, and saw in all her actions that

sort of care and embarrassment which love produces in young and

innocent hearts.