ThissacrificewhichtheDucwaspreparedtomakecausedthePrincesstoforgetalltheangershehadshown。ShechangedthesubjectandbegantospeakoftheindiscretiondisplayedbyMadameinmakingthefirstadvancesandoftheconsiderableadvantageswhichhewouldgainifhemarriedher。Intheend，withoutsayinganythingkindtotheDucdeGuise，shemadehimrecallathousandthingshehadfoundsopleasinginMlle。deMezieres。Althoughtheyhadnothadprivateconversationforalongtime，theyfoundthemselvesattunedtooneanother，andtheirthoughtswentalongatrackwhichtheybothhadtravelledinthepast。AttheendofthisagreeablemeetingtheDucwasleftinastateofconsiderablehappiness，andthePrincesswasnotalittlemovedtothinkthathetrulylovedher。However，intheprivacyofherroomshebecameashamedoftheeasewithwhichshehadacceptedtheDuc\'sexcusesandreflectedonthetroubleintowhichshemightbeplungedifsheengagedinsomethingshehadalwaysregardedwithdistasteandonthefrighteningmiserywhichajealoushusbandmightinflictonher。Thesethoughtsmadeheradoptnewresolves，buttheydisappearedthenextdayonthesightoftheDucdeGuise。
ThenewalliancebetweentheirfamiliesgavetheDucmanyopportunitiestospeaktoher。HegaveheranexactaccountofallthatpassedbetweenMadameandhimself。HehaddifficultyinallayingthejealousytowhichthebeautyofMadamegaveriseandanynumberofpromisesfailedtoreassureher。ThisjealousyenabledthePrincesstodefendtheremainsofherheartagainsttheadvancesoftheDuc，whoalreadyhadwonthegreaterpartofit。
ThemarriageoftheKingtothedaughteroftheEmperorMaximilianfilledtheCourtwithfetesandcelebrations。TheKingputonaballetinwhichMadameandalltheprincessesweretodance;amongthemonlythePrincessdeMontpensiercouldrivalMadameinbeauty。TheDucd\'AnjouandfourothersweretomakeanappearanceasMoors;theircostumeswouldallbeidentical，aswasusualinthissortofperformance。Onthefirstoccasiononwhichtheballetwaspresented，theDucdeGuise，beforethedancebeganandbeforehehaddonnedhismask，saidafewwordstothePrincessashewentpasther。ShesawclearlythatthePrinceherhusbandhadnoticedthis，whichmadeherfeeluneasy。
Alittlelater，seeingtheDucd\'AnjouinhismaskandMoorishcostume，whowascomingtospeaktoher，shemistookhimfortheDucdeGuiseandsaidtohim\"DonothaveeyesforanyonebutMadamethisevening：Ishallnotbeintheleastjealous。Iamorderingyou。Iambeingwatched。Donotcomenearmeagain。\"Assoonasshehadsaidthisshemovedaway。
TheDucd\'Anjoustoodtherethunderstruck。Hesawthathehadasuccessfulrival：thereferencetoMadamemadeitobviousthatthiswastheDucdeGuise，andlefthiminnodoubtthathissisterwastoplaysecondfiddletothePrincessdeMontpensier。
Jealousy，frustrationandragejoiningtothedislikewhichhealreadyhadfortheDucrousedhimtoaviolentfury;andhewouldhavegiventhereandthensomebloodymarkofhistemperhadnotthatdissimulationwhichcamenaturallytohimpreventedhimfromattackingtheDucdeGuiseinthepresentcircumstances。
Hedidnot，however，refrainfromthepleasureofdisclosinghisknowledgeofthissecretaffair。HeapproachedtheDucdeGuiseastheyleftthesalonwheretheyhadbeendancingandsaidtohim\"Topresumetoraiseyoureyestowardsmysister，aswellasstealingtheaffectionofthewomanIloveisaltogethertoomuch。ThepresenceoftheKingpreventsmefromtakinganyactionjustnow，butrememberthatthelossofyourlifemaybe，oneday，theleastthingwithwhichIshallpunishyourimpertinence。\"
TheprideoftheDucdeGuisewasnotaccustomedtosubmittamelytosuchthreats，buthewasunabletoreplybecauseatthatmomenttheKingcalledbothofthemtohisside。Hedidnotforget，however，andtriedallhislifetoexactrevenge。
FromthateveningtheDucd\'AnjouendeavouredanallsortsofwaystoturntheKingagainsttheDucdeGuise。HepersuadedtheKingthatMadamewouldneveragreetoherproposedmarriagetotheKingofNavarreaslongastheDucdeGuisewasallowedtohaveanycontactwithher;andthatitwasunacceptablethatasubject，forhisownvainpurposes，shouldplaceanobstacleinthewayofwhatcouldbringpeacetoFrance。TheKingalreadydislikedtheDucdeGuiseandthisspeechinflamedhisdislikesomuchthatthenextdaywhentheDucpresentedhimselftojointheballattheQueen\'sapartments，hestoodinthedoorwayandaskedhimbrusquelywherehewasgoing。TheDuc，withoutshowinganysurpriseansweredthathehadcometoofferhismosthumbleservices，towhichtheKingrepliedthathehadnoneedofanyserviceswhichtheDucmightprovide，andturnedawaywithoutanyotheracknowledgement。TheDucwasnotdeterredfromenteringtheroom，hisfeelingsincensedbothagainsttheKingandtheDucd\'Anjou。Hisnaturalprideledhim，asanactofdefiance，topaymoreattentiontoMadamethanusual，andwhattheDucd\'AnjouhadtoldhimpreventedhimfromlookinginthedirectionofthePrincessdeMontpensier。
TheDucd\'Anjouwatchedbothofthemwithcloseattention。ThePrincess\'sexpression，inspiteofherself，showedsomechagrinwhentheDucdeGuisespokewithMadame。TheDucd\'Anjouwhorealisedfromwhatshehadsaidtohim，whenshemistookhimfortheDucdeGuise，thatshewasjealous，hopedtocausetrouble。
Hedrewclosetoherandsaid，\"ItisinyourinterestandnotinminethatImusttellyouthattheDucdeGuisedoesnotdeservethechoiceyouhavemadeofhiminpreferencetome，achoicewhichyoucannotdenyandofwhichIamwellaware，heisdeceivingyoumadame，andbetrayingyouformysisterashebetrayedherforyou。Heisamanmovedonlybyambition，butsincehehasthegoodfortunetopleaseyou，thatisenough;I
shallnotattempttostandinthewayofafelicitywhichwithoutdoubtImeritmorethanhe。Itwouldbeundignifiedformetopersistintryingtogaintheheartwhichisalreadypossessedbyanother。ItisbadenoughtohaveattractedonlyyourindifferenceandIwouldnotliketohavethisreplacedbydislikebywearyingyouwithendlessprotestationsofunwelcomedevotion。\"
TheDucd\'Anjouwhowasgenuinelytouchedbyloveandsadness，washardlyabletocompletethisspeech，andalthoughhehadbeguninaspiritofspiteandvengeance，hewassoovercomewhenhethoughtofthePrincess\'sbeautyandofwhathewaslosingbygivingupallhopeofbeingherlover。thatwithoutwaitingforherreplyhelefttheball，sayingthathefeltunwell，andwenthometonursehisgrief。
ThePrincessdeMontpensierstayedthere，upsetandworriedasonemightimagine。Toseeherreputationandhersecretinthehandsofasuitorwhomshehadrejectedandtolearnfromhimthatshewasbeingdeceivedbyherloverwerenotthingswhichwouldputherintherightframeofmindforaplacededicatedtoenjoyment;shehad，however，toremainwhereshewasandlatergotosupperinthecompanyoftheDuchessdeMontpensier，hermother-in-law。
TheDucdeGuisewhohadfollowedthemtohissister\'shouse，wasdyingtotellherwhattheDucd\'Anjouhadsaidthedaybefore，buttohisastonishmentwhenhedidhavetheopportunitytospeaktoher，hewasoverwhelmedbyreproacheswhichweretumbledoutinsuchangryprofusionthatallhecouldgatherwasthathewasaccusedofinfidelityandtreachery。Dismayedatfindinghimselfinthisunhappysituationwhenhehadhopedforconsolation，andbeingsomuchinlovewiththePrincessthathecouldnotbeartobeunsureifhewaslovedinreturn，hetookasuddendecision。
\"Ishalllayyourdoubtsatrest，\"hesaid。\"Iamgoingtodowhatalltheroyalpowercouldnotmakemedo。Itwillcostmemyfortunebutthatisoflittleaccountifitmakesyouhappy。\"
Hewentstraightfromhissister\'shousetothatofhisuncle，thecardinal。HeconvincedhimthathavingfallenintotheKing\'sdisfavour，itwasessentialthatitshouldbemadequiteclearthathewouldnotmarryMadame，soheaskedforhismarriagetobearrangedwiththePrincessdePortien，amatterwhichhadpreviouslybeendiscussed。ThenewsofthiswassoonalloverParisandgaverisetomuchsurprise。TheprincessdeMontpensierwasbothhappyandsad。GladtoseethepowershehadovertheDuc，andsorrythatshehadcausedhimtoabandonsomethingsoadvantageousasmarriagetoMadame。TheDucwhohopedthatlovewouldcompensatehimforhismaterialloss，pressedthePrincesstogivehimaprivateaudiencesothathecouldclearuptheunjustaccusationswhichshehadmade。Heobtainedthiswhenshefoundherselfathissister\'shouseatatimewhenhissisterwasnotthereandshewasabletospeaktohimalone。TheDuctooktheopportunitytothrowhimselfatherfeetanddescribeallthathehadsufferedbecauseofhersuspicions，andthoughthePrincesswasunabletoforgetwhattheDucd\'Anjouhadsaidtoher，thebehaviouroftheDucdeGuisedidmuchtoreassureher。ShetoldhimexactlywhyshebelievedhehadbetrayedherwhichwasbecausetheDucd\'Anjouknewwhathecouldonlyhavelearnedfromhim。TheDucdidnothowtodefendhimselfandwasaspuzzledasshetoguesswhatcouldhavegivenawaytheirsecret：atlast，whilethePrincesswasremonstratingwithhimforgivinguptheideaoftheadvantageousmarriagewithMadameandrushingintothatwiththePrincessdePortien，shesaidtohimthathecouldhavebeencertainthatshewouldnotbejealoussinceonthedayoftheballsheherselfhadtoldhimtohaveeyesonlyforMadame。TheDucsaidthatshemighthaveintendedtodosobutthatshecertainlyhadnot。Shemaintainedthatshehad，andintheendtheyreachedthecorrectconclusionthatsheherself，deceivedbytheresemblanceofthecostumes，hadtoldtheDucd\'AnjouwhatsheaccusedtheDucdeGuiseoftellinghim。TheDucdeGuisewhohadalmostentirelyreturnedtofavour，didsocompletelyasaresultofthisconversation。ThePrincesscouldnotrefuseherhearttoamanwhohadpossesseditinthepastandhadjustmadesuchasacrificetopleaseher。Sheconsentedtoaccepthisdeclarationandpermittedhimtobelievethatshewasnotunmovedbyhispassion。ThearrivaloftheDuchess，hermother-in-law，putanendtothistete-a-tete，andpreventedtheDucfromdemonstratinghistransportsofjoy。
Sometimelater，theCourthavinggonetoBlois，themarriagebetweentheKingofNavarreandMadamewascelebrated。TheDucdeGuisewhowantednothingmorethantheloveofthePrincessdeMontpensier，enjoyedaceremonywhichinothercircumstanceswouldhaveoverwhelmedhimwithdisappointment。
TheDucwasnotabletoconcealhislovesowellthatthePrincedeMontpensierdidnotsuspectthatsomethingwasgoingon，andbeingconsumedbyjealousyheorderedhiswifetogotoChampigny。Thisorderwasagreatshocktoher，butshehadtoobey：shefoundawaytosaygoodbyetotheDucdeGuiseprivatelybutshefoundherselfingreatdifficultywhenitcametoameansofprovidingamethodwherebyhecouldwritetoher。
AftermuchthoughtshedecidedtomakeuseoftheComtedeChabannes，whomshealwayslookedonasafriendwithoutconsideringthathewasinlovewithher。TheDucdeGuise，whoknewoftheclosefriendshipbetweentheComteandthePrincedeMontpensier，wasatfirstamazedatherchoiceoftheComteasago-between，butsheassuredhimoftheComte\'sfidelitywithsuchconvictionthathewaseventuallysatisfied。Hepartedfromherwithalltheunhappinesswhichsuchaseparationcancause。
TheComtedeChabannes，whohadbeenillinPariswhilethePrincesswasatBlois，learningthatshewasgoingtoChampignyarrangedtomeetherontheroadandgowithher。Shegreetedhimwithathousandexpressionsoffriendshipanddisplayedanextraordinaryimpatiencetotalktohiminprivate，whichatfirstdelightedhim。JudgehisdismaywhenhefoundthatthisimpatiencewasonlytotellhimthatshewaslovedpassionatelybytheDucdeGuise，alovewhichshereturned。Hewassodistressedthathewasunabletoreply。ThePrincess，whowasengrossedbyherinfatuation，tooknonoticeofhissilence。Shebegantotellhimalltheleastdetailsoftheevents，andhowsheandtheDuchadagreedthatheshouldbethemeansbywhichtheycouldexchangeletters。Thethoughtthatthewomanhelovedexpectedhimtobeofassistancetohisrival，andmadetheproposalasifitwasathinghewouldfindagreeablewasbitterlyhurtful，buthewassomuchincontrolofhimselfthathehidallhisfeelingsfromherandexpressedonlysurpriseatthechangeinherattitude。Hehopedthatthischangewhichremovedeventhefaintesthopefromhimwouldatthesametimechangehisfeelings，buthefoundthePrincesssocharming，hernaturalbeautyhavingbeenenhancedbyacertaingracewhichshehadacquiredatCourtthathefeltthathelovedhermorethanever。Thisremarkabledevotionproducedaremarkableeffect。Heagreedtocarryhisrival\'sletterstohisbeloved。
ThePrincesswasverydespondentattheabsenceoftheDucdeGuise，andcouldhopeforsolaceonlyfromhisletters。ShecontinuallytormentedtheComtedeChabannestoknowifhehadreceivedanyandalmostblamedhimfornothavingdeliveredonesooner。Atlastsomearrived，broughtbyagentlemanintheDuc\'sservice，whichhetooktoherimmediatelysoasnottodelayherpleasureforamomentlongerthannecessary。ThePrincesswasdelightedtohavethemandtorturedthepoorComtebyreadingthemtohim，aswellashertenderandlovingreply。Hetookthisreplytothewaitingcourierevenmoresadlythanhehadmadethedelivery。HeconsoledhimselfalittlebythereflectionthatthePrincesswouldrealisewhathwasdoingforherandwouldshowsomerecognition。Finding，however，thatshedailytreatedhimwithlessconsideration，owingtotheanxietieswhichpreoccupiedher，hetookthelibertyofbegginghertothinkalittleofthesufferingshewascausinghim。ThePrincesswhohadnothinginherheadbuttheDucdeGuise，wassoirritatedbythisapproachthatshetreatedtheComtemuchworsethanshehaddoneonthefirstoccasionwhenhehaddeclaredhisloveforher。Althoughhisdevotionandpatiencehadstoodsomanytrials，thiswastoomuch。HeleftthePrincessandwenttolivewithafriendwhohadahouseintheneighbourhood，fromwherehewrotetoherwithallthebitternessthatherbehaviourhadprovokedandbidheraneternaladieu。
ThePrincessbegantorepenthavingdealtsoharshlywithamanoverwhomshehadsomuchinfluence，andbeingunwillingtolosehim，notonlyonaccountoftheirpastfriendship，butalsobecauseofhisvitalroleintheconductofheraffair，shesentamessagetohimtosaythatshewishedtospeaktohimonemoretimeandthatafterwardsshewouldleavehimfreetodoashepleased。Oneisveryvulnerablewhenoneisinlove。TheComtecameback，andinlessthananhourthebeautyofthePrincess，hercharmandafewkindwordsmadehimmoresubmissivethanever，andheevengavehersomelettersfromtheDucdeGuisewhichhehadjustreceived。
AtthistimetherewasaschemeafootintheCourttoattracttherealltheleadersoftheHuguenots，withthesecretaimofincludingtheminthehorriblemassacreofSt。Bartholomew\'sday。
Aspartofthisattempttolullthemintoafalsesenseofsecurity，theKingdismissedfromhispresencealltheprincesofthehousesofBourbonanddeGuise。ThePrincedeMontpensierreturnedtoChampigney，totheutterdismayofhiswife，theDucdeGuisewenttothehomeofhisuncle，theCardinaldeLorraine。
LoveandidlenessinducedinhimsuchaviolentdesiretoseethePrincessdeMontpensierthat，withoutconsideringtheriskstoherandtohimself，hemadesomeexcusetotravel，andleavinghissuiteinasmalltown，hetookwithhimonlythegentlemanwhohadalreadymadeseveraltripstoChampigny，andwenttherebypost-chaise。AsheknewnoonewhomhecouldapproachbuttheComtedeChabannes，hehadthegentlemanwriteanoterequestingameetingatacertainspot。TheComte，believingthatthiswassolelyforthepurposeofreceivinglettersfromtheDucdeGuise，wentthere，butwasmostsurprisedtoseetheDuchimselfandequallydismayed。TheDuc，fullofhisownplans，tooknomorenoticeoftheComte\'sdismaythanhadthePrincessofhissilencewhenshetoldhimofheramour。HedescribedhispassioninfloridtermsandclaimedthathewouldinfalliblydieifthePrincesscouldnotbepersuadedtoseehim。TheComterepliedcoldlythathewouldtellthePrincessallthattheDucwantedtoconveyandwouldreturnwithherresponse。HethenwentbacktoChampignywithhisownemotionsinsuchaturmoilthathehardlyknewwhathewasdoing。HethoughtofsendingtheDucawaywithoutsayinganythingtothePrincess，butthefaithfulnesswithwhichhehadpromisedtoservehersoonputanendtothatidea。Hearrivedwithoutknowingwhatheshoulddo，andfindingthatthePrincewasouthunting，hewentstraighttothePrincess\'sapartment。Shesawthathewasdistressedanddismissedherwomeninordertofindoutwhattroubledhim。Hetoldher，ascalmlyashecould，thattheDucdeGuisewasaleaguedistantandthathewantedpassionatelytoseeher。ThePrincessgaveacryatthisnewsandherconfusionwasalmostasgreatasthatoftheComte。Atfirstshewasfullofjoyatthethoughtofseeingthemanshelovedsotenderly，butwhensheconsideredhowmuchthiswasagainstherprinciples，andthatshecouldnotseeherloverwithoutintroducinghimintoherhomeduringthenightandwithoutherhusband\'sknowledge，shefoundherselfintheutmostdifficulty。TheComteawaitedherreplyasifitwereamatteroflifeordeath。Realisingthathersilenceindicatedheruncertainty，hetookthelibertyofpresentingtoheralltheperilstowhichshewouldbeexposedbysuchameeting，andwishingtomakeitclearthathewasnotdoingthisinhisowninterest，hesaidthatif，inspiteofallthathehadsaidshewasdeterminedtoseetheDuc，ratherthanseeherseekforaidfromhelperslessfaithfulthanhimself，hewouldbringtheDuctoher。\"YesMadame\"hesaid，\"IshallgoandfindtheDucandbringhimtoyourapartment，foritistoodangeroustoleavehimforlongwhereheis。\"\"Buthowcanthisbedone?\"
interruptedthePrincess。\"Ha!Madame，\"criedtheComte，\"itisthendecided，sinceyouspeakonlyofthemethod。Ishallleadhimthroughthepark;onlyorderoneofyourmaidswhomyoucantrusttolower，exactlyatmidnight，thelittledrawbridgewhichleadsfromyourantechambertotheflowergardenandleavetheresttome。\"HavingsaidthisheroseandwithoutwaitingforanyfurthercommentfromthePrincess，heleft，remountedhishorseandwenttolookfortheDucdeGuise，whowaswaitingforhimwiththegreatestimpatience。
ThePrincessremainedinsuchastateofconfusionthatitwassometimebeforeshecametohersenses。HerfirstthoughtwastosendsomeoneaftertheComtetotellhimnottobringtheDuc，butshecouldnotbringherselftodoso。Shethenthoughtthatfailingthis，shehadonlynottohavethedrawbridgelowered，andshebelievedthatshewouldcontinuewiththisresolve，butwhenthehouroftheassignationdrewnearshewasnolongerabletoresistthedesiretoseetheloverwhomshelongedfor，andshegaveinstructionstooneofherwomenonthemethodbywhichtheDucwastobeintroducedintoherapartment。
MeanwhiletheDucandtheComtewereapproachingChampigny，butinverydifferingframesofmind。TheDucwasfullofjoyandallthehappinessofexpectation。TheComtewasinamoodofdespairandanger，whichtemptedhimattimestorunhisswordthroughhisrival。Theyatlastreachedthepark，wheretheylefttheirhorsesinthecareoftheDuc\'ssquire，andpassingthroughagapinthewalltheycametotheflowergarden。TheComtehadalwaysretainedsomehopethatthePrincesswouldcometohersensesandresolvenottoseetheDuc，butwhenhesawthatthedrawbridgewasloweredherealisedthathishopewasinvain。Hewastemptedtotakesomedesperatemeasure，buthewasawarethatanynoisewouldbeheardbythePrincedeMontpensierwhoseroomslookedoutontothesameflower-garden，andthatallthesubsequentdisorderwouldfallontheheadoftheonehelovedmost。HecalmedhimselfandledtheDuctothepresenceofthePrincess。
AlthoughthePrincesssignaledthatshewouldlikehimtostayintheroomduringtheinterview，hewasunwillingtodoso，andretiredtoalittlepassagewhichranalongsidethePrincess\'sapartment，apreytothesaddestthoughtswhichcouldafflictadisappointedlover。
Now，althoughtheyhadmadeverylittlenoisewhilecrossingthebridge，thePrincedeMontpensierwasawakeandheardit。Hemadeoneofhisservantsgetupandgotoseewhatitwas。Theservantputhisheadoutofthewindowandinthedarknesshecouldmakeoutthatthedrawbridgewaslowered。Hetoldhismasterwhothenorderedhimtogointotheparkandfindoutwhatwasgoingon。A
momentlaterhegotuphimself，beingdisturbedbywhathethoughthehadheard，thatisfootstepsonthebridgeleadingtohiswife\'squarters。
AshewasgoingtowardsthelittlepassagewheretheComtewaswaiting，thePrincesswhowassomewhatembarrassedatbeingalonewiththeDucdeGuise，askedthelatterseveraltimestocomeintotheroom。HerefusedtodosoandasshecontinuedtopresshimandashewasfuriouslyangryheansweredhersoloudlythathewasheardbythePrincedeMontpensier，butsoindistinctlythatthePrinceheardonlyaman\'svoicewithoutbeingabletorecogniseitasthatoftheComte。
TheseeventswouldhaveinfuriatedacharactermoreplacidandlessjealousthanthePrincedeMontpensier。Hehurledhimselfagainstthedoor，callingforittobeopened，andcruellysurprisingthePrincess，theDucdeGuiseandtheComtedeChabannes。Thislast，hearingthePrince\'svoice，sawimmediatelythatitwasimpossibletopreventhimfrombelievingthattherewassomeoneinhiswife\'sroom，andthathewasinsuchastatethatifhefoundthatitwastheDucdeGuisehemightkillhimbeforetheeyesofthePrincessandthatevenherlifemightbeatrisk。Hedecided，inanactofextraordinarygenerosity，tosacrificehimselftosaveasuccessfulrivalandanungratefulmistress。
WhilethePrincewasbatteringonthedoor，hewenttotheDuc，whohadnoideawhattodo，puthiminthecareofthewomanwhohadarrangedhisentrybythebridgeandtoldhertoshowhimthewayout。ScarcelyhadheleftwhenthePrincehavingbrokendownthedoorenteredtheroomlikeamanpossessed。HoweverwhenhesawonlytheComtedeChabanne，motionless，leaningonatablewithalookofinfinitesadnessonhisface，hestoppedshort。
Theastonishmentoffindinghisbestfriendaloneatnightinhiswife\'sroomdeprivedhimofspeech。ThePrincesshadcollapsedontosomecushionsandneverperhapshasfateputthreepeopleinamoreunhappyposition。AtlastthePrincemadeanattempttomakesenseofthechaosbeforehiseyes。HeaddressedtheComteinatoneofvoicewhichstillhadsomefriendliness，\"WhatisthisIsee?\"hesaid。\"IsitpossiblethatamanIlovesodearlyhaschosenamongallotherwomentoseducemywife?Andyoumadame，\"hesaid，turningtohiswife，\"wasitnotenoughtodeprivemeofyourloveandmyhonourwithoutdeprivingmeoftheonemanwhocouldhaveconsoledmeinsuchcircumstances?Answerme，oneofyou，\"hesaidtothem，\"andexplainthisaffair，whichIcannotbelieveiswhatitseems。\"ThePrincesswasincapableofreplyingandtheComteopenedhismouthonceortwicebutwasunabletospeak。
\"Youseemeasacriminal\"hesaidatlast，\"andunworthyofthefriendshipyouhaveshownme;butthesituationisnotwhatyoumaythinkitis。Iammoreunhappythanyouandmoredespairing。
Idonotknowhowtotellyoumorethanthat。Mydeathwouldavengeyou，andifyouweretokillmenowyouwouldbedoingmeafavour。\"Thesewords，spokenwithanairofthedeepestsorrow，andinamannerwhichdeclaredhisinnocenceinsteadofenlighteningthePrinceconfirmedhimintheviewthatsomethingmysteriouswasgoingonwhichhedidnotunderstand。Hisunhappinesswasincreasedbythisuncertainty。\"Killmeyourself，\"hesaid，\"orgivemesomeexplanationofyourwordsforIcanunderstandnothing。Youoweittomyfriendship，youoweittomyrestraint，foranyonebutmewouldhavealreadytakenyourlifetoavengesuchanaffront。\"
\"Theappearancesarewhollymisleading\"interruptedtheComte。
\"Ah!Itistoomuch。Imustbeavengedandclearthingsuplater，\"saidthePrince，advancingtowardstheComtelikeamancarriedawaybyrage。ThePrincess，fearingbloodshed(whichwasnotpossibleasherhusbanddidnothaveasword)，placedherselfbetweenthetwoofthemandfellfaintingatherhusband\'sfeet。
ThePrincewasevenmoreaffectedbythisthanhewasbythecalmnessoftheComtewhenheconfrontedhim，andasifhecouldnolongerbearthesightofthosetwopeoplewhohadcausedhimsuchdistress，heturnedawayandfellonhiswife\'sbed，overcomebygrief。TheComtedeChabannes，filledwithremorseathavingabusedthefriendshipofwhichhehadhadsomanymarks，andbelievingthathecouldneveratoneforwhathehaddone，lefttheroomabruptlyandpassingthroughthePrincess\'sapartmentwherehefoundallthedoorsopen，hewentdowntothecourtyard。Hehadahorsebroughttohimandrodeoffintothecountryledonlybyhisfeelingsofhopelessness。ThePrincedeMontpensier，seeingthathiswifedidnotrecoverfromherfaint，lefthertoherwomenandretiredtohisownquartersgreatlydisturbed。
TheDucdeGuisehavinggotoutofthepark，hardlyknowingwhathewasdoingbeinginsuchastateofturmoil，putseveralleaguesbetweenhimselfandChampigny，butcouldgonofurtherwithoutnewsofthePrincess。HestoppedintheforestandsenthissquiretofindoutfromtheComtedeChabanneswhathadhappened。ThesquirefoundnotraceofChabannesbutwastoldbyothersthatthePrincesswasseriouslyill。TheDuc\'sinquietudewasincreasedbywhatthesquirehadtoldhim，butashecoulddonothinghewasconstrainedtogobacktohisuncle\'sinordernottoraisesuspicionsbytoolonganabsence。
TheDuc\'ssquirehadbeencorrectwhenhesaidthatthePrincesswasseriouslyill，forassoonasherwomenhadputhertobedshewasseizedbyaviolentfeverwithhorriblephantasies，sothatbytheseconddayherlifewasdespairedof。ThePrincepretendedthathehimselfwasillsothatnooneshouldbesurprisedthathedidnotvisithiswife\'sroom。TheorderwhichhereceivedtoreturntotheCourt，towhichalltheCatholicprinceswerebeingrecalledinpreparationforthemassacreoftheHuguenots，relievedhimofhisembarrassment。HewentofftoPariswithoutknowingwhathehadtohopeorfearabouthiswife\'sillness。HehadhardlyarrivedtherewhentheassaultontheHuguenotswassignalisedbytheattackonAdmiraldeChatillon。Twodayslatercamethedisgracefulmassacre，nowsowellknownthroughoutEurope。
ThepoorComtedeChabanne，whohadgonetohidehimselfawayinoneoftheoutersuburbsofParistoabandonhimselftohismisery，wascaughtupintheruinoftheHuguenots。Thepeopletowhosehousehehadretired，havingrecognisedhim，andhavingrecalledthathehadoncebeensuspectedofbeingofthatpersuasion，murderedhimonthesamenightwhichwasfataltosomanypeople。ThenextdaythePrincedeMontpensier，whowasinthatareaonduty，passedalongthestreetwherethebodyoftheComtelay。Hewasatfirstshockedbythispitifulsightand，recallinghispastfriendship，wasgrieved;butthenthememoryoftheoffence，whichhebelievedtheComtehadcommitted，madehimfeelpleasedthathehadbeenavengedbythehandofchance。
TheDucdeGuisewhohadusedtheopportunityofthemassacretotakeamplerevengeforthedeathofhisfather，graduallytooklessandlessinterestintheConditionofthePrincessofMontpensier;andhavingmettheMarquisedeNoirmoutier，awomanofwitandbeauty，andonewhopromisedmorethanthePrincessdeMontpensier，heattachedhimselftoher，anattachmentwhichlastedalifetime。
ThePrincess\'sillnessreachedacrisisandthenbegantoremit。
Sherecoveredhersensesandwassomewhatrelievedbytheabsenceofherhusband。Shewasexpectedtolive，butherhealthrecoveredveryslowlybecauseofherlowspirits，whichwerefurtherdepressedbytherealisationthatshehadreceivednonewsoftheDucdeGuiseduringallherillness。Sheaskedherwomeniftheyhadnotseenanyone，iftheyhadnothadanyletters，andfindingthattherehadbeennothing，shesawherselfasthemostwretchedofwomen，onewhohadriskedallforamanwhohadabandonedher。AfreshblowwasthenewsofthedeathoftheComtedeChabannes，whichherhusbandmadesuresheheardaboutassoonaspossible。TheingratitudeoftheDucdeGuisemadeherfeelevenmoredeeplythelossofamanwhosefidelitysheknewsowell。Thesedisappointmentsweighedheavilyuponherandreducedhertoastateasseriousasthatfromwhichshehadrecentlyrecovered。MadamedeNoirmoutierwasawomanwhotookasmuchcaretopubliciseheraffairsasothersdotoconcealthem。
HerrelationswiththeDucdeGuiseweresoopenthat，eventhoughfarawayandill，thePrincessheardsomuchaboutitthatshewasleftinnodoubt。Thiswasthefinalstraw。Shehadlosttheregardofherhusband，theheartofherlover，andthemostloyalofherfriends。Shetooktoherbed，anddiednotlongafterintheflowerofheryouth。Shewasoneoftheloveliestofwomenandcouldhavebeenoneofthehappiestifshehadnotstrayedsofarfromthepathofprudenceandvirtue。