Page:ThePrincessofCleves.djvu/89

was so thoroughly satisfied of it, that I was obliged to give her no further uneasiness, but to let her be quiet. Some time after she wrote me this letter which I have lost; I learned from it, she had heard of the correspondence I had with the other woman I told you of, and that that was the reason of her change. As I had then nothing further left to divide me, the queen was well enough satisfied with me; but the sentiments I have for her not being of a nature to render me incapable of other engagements, and love not being a thing that depends on our will, I fell in love with madam de Martigues, of whom I was formerly a great admirer while she was with Villemontais, maid of honour to the queen-dauphin. I have reason to believe she does not hate me; the discretion I observe towards her, and which she does not wholly know the reasons of, is very agreeable to her; the queen has not the least suspicion on her account; but she has another jealousy which is not less troublesome: as madam de Martigues is constantly with the queen-dauphin, I go there much oftener than usual; the queen imagines that it is this princess I am in love with; the queen-dauphin's rank, which is equal to her own, and the superiority of her youth and beauty, create a jealousy that rises even to fury, and fills her with a hatred against her daughter-in-law that cannot be concealed. The cardinal of Loraine, who, I believe, has been long aspiring to the queen's favour, and would be glad to fill the place I possess, is, under pretence of reconciling the two queens, become master of the differences between them; I doubt not but he has discovered the true cause of the queen's anger, and I believe he does me all manner of ill offices, without letting her see that he designs it. This is the condition my affairs are in at present; judge what effect may be produced by the letter which I have lost, and which I unfortunately put in my pocket with design to restore it to madam de Themines: if the queen sees this letter, she will know I have deceived her; and that almost at the very same