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。