suffer her to continue long in the hope that nobody had perceived it, but giving her his hand to lead her out of the lists, I have more cause to complain, madam, said he, than the duke de Nemours; pardon me, if I forget for a moment that profound respect I have always had for you, and show you how much my heart is grieved for what my eyes have just seen; this is the first time I have ever been so bold as to speak to you, and it will be the last. Death, or at least eternal absence, will remove me from a place where I can live no longer, since I have now lost the melancholy comfort I had of believing that all who behold you with love are as unhappy as myself.
Madam de Cleves made only a confused answer, as if she had not understood what the chevalier's words meant: at another time she would have been offended if he had mentioned the passion he had for her; but at this moment she felt nothing but the affliction to know that he had observed the passion she had for the duke de Nemours.
Madam de Cleves, when she came out of the lists, went to the queen's apartment, with her thoughts wholly taken up with what had passed. The duke de Nemours came there soon after, richly dressed, and like one wholly insensible of the accident that had befallen him; he appeared even more gay than usual; and the joy he was in for what he had discovered, gave him an air that very much increased his natural agreeableness. The whole court was surprised when he came in; and there was nobody but asked him how he did, except madam de Cleves, who staid near the chimney pretending not to see him. The king coming out of his closet, and seeing him among others called him to talk to him about his late accident. The duke passed by madam de Cleves, and said softly to her, Madam, I have received this day some marks of your pity, but they were not such as I am most worthy of. Madam de Cleves suspected that he had taken notice of the concern she
