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made as Nangis； but the Princess reciprocated his ardor so perfectly that
up to his death he never suspected that her glances had wandered to any
one else。 They fell； however； upon Nangis； and soon redoubled。 Nangis
was not ungrateful； but he feared the thunderbolt； and his heart； too；
was already engaged。 Madame de la Vrilliere； who； without beauty； was
pretty and grateful as Love； had made this conquest。 She was； as I have
said； daughter of Madame de Mailly； Dame d'Atours of Madame la Duchesse
de Bourgogne； and was always near her。 Jealousy soon enlightened her as
to what was taking place。 Far from yielding her conquest to the Duchess；
she made a point of preserving it； of disputing its possession； and
carrying it off。 This struggle threw Nangis into a terrible
embarrassment。 He feared the fury df Madame de la Vrilliere； who
affected to be more ready to break out than in reality she was。 Besides
his love for her； he feared the result of an outburst； and already saw
his fortune lost。 On the other hand； any reserve of his towards the
Duchess； who had so much power in her handsand seemed destined to have
moreand who he knew was not likely to suffer a rival
might； he felt； be his ruin。 This perplexity； for those who were aware
of it； gave rise to continual scenes。 I was then a constant visitor of
Madame de Blansac； at Paris； and of the Marechale de Rochefort； at
Versailles； and； through them and several other ladies of the Court； with
whom I was intimate； I learnt； day by day； everything that passed。 In
addition to the fact that nothing diverted me more； the results of this
affair might be great； and it was my especial ambition to be well
informed of everything。 At length； all members of the Court who were
assiduous and enlightened understood the state of affairs； but either
through fear or from love to the Duchess； the whole Court was silent； saw
everything； whispered discreetly； and actually kept the secret that was
not entrusted to it。 The struggle between the two ladies； not without
bitterness； and sometimes insolence on the part of Madame de la
Vrilliere； nor without suffering and displeasure gently manifested on the
part of Madame de Bourgogne； was for a long time a singular sight。
Whether Nangis； too faithful to his first love； needed some grains of
jealousy to excite him； or whether things fell out naturally； it happened
that he found a rival。 Maulevrier； son of a brother of Colbert who had
died of grief at not being named Marshal of France； was this rival。 He
had married a daughter of the Marechal de Tesse； and was not very
agreeable in appearancehis face； indeed； was very commonplace。 He was
by no means framed for gallantry； but he had wit； and a mind fertile in
intrigues； with a measureless ambition that was sometimes pushed to
madness。 His wife was pretty； not clever； quarrelsome； and under a
virginal appearance； mischievous to the last degree。 As daughter of a
man for whom Madame de Bourgogne had much gratitude for the part he had
taken in negotiating her marriage； and the Peace of Savoy； she was easily
enabled to make her way at Court； and her husband with her。 He soon
sniffed what was passing in respect to Nangis； and obtained means of
access to Madame de Bourgogne； through the influence of his father…in…
law； was assiduous in his attentions； and at length； excited by example；
dared to sigh。 Tired of not being understood； he ventured to write。 It
is pretended that he sent his letters through one of the Court ladies；
who thought they came from Tesse； delivered them； and handed him back the
answers； as though for delivery by him。 I will not add what more was
believed。 I will simply say that this affair was as soon perceived as
had been the other； and was treated； with the same silence。
Under pretext of friendship； Madame de Bourgogne went more than onceon
account of the speedy departure of her husband （for the army）； attended
some； times by La Maintenon；to the house of Madame de Maulevrier； to
weep with her。 The Court smiled。 Whether the tears were for Madame de
Maulevrier or for Nangis； was doubtful。 But Nangis； nevertheless；
aroused by this rivalry； threw Madame de la Vrilliere into terrible
grief； and into a humour over which she was not mistress。
This tocsin made itself heard by Maulevrier。 What will not a man think
of doing when possessed to excess by love or ambition？ He pretended to
have something the matter with his chest； put himself on a milk diet；
made believe that he had lost his voice； and was sufficiently master of
himself to refrain from uttering an intelligible word during a whole
year； by these means evading the campaign and remaining at the Court。
He was mad enough to relate this project； and many others； to his friend
the Duc de Lorges； from whom； in turn； I learnt it。 The fact was； that
bringing himself thus to the necessity of never speaking to anybody
except in their ear； he had the liberty of speaking low toMadame la
Duchesse de Bourgogne before all the Court without impropriety and
without suspicion。 In this manner he said to her whatever he wished day
by day； and was never overheard。 He also contrived to say things the
short answers to which were equally unheard。 He so accustomed people to
this manner of speaking that they took no more notice of it than was
expressed in pity for such a sad state； but it happened that those who
approached the nearest to Madame la Duchesse de Bourgogne when Maulevrier
was at her side； soon knew enough not to be eager to draw near her again
when she was thus situated。 This trick lasted more than a year： his
conversation was principally composed of reproachesbut reproaches
rarely succeed in love。 Maulevrier； judging by the ill…humour of Madame
de la Vrilliere； believed Nangis to be happy。 Jealousy and rage
transported him at last to the extremity of folly。
One day； as Madame de Bourgogne was coming from mass and he knew that
Dangeau； her chevalier d'honneur； was absent； he gave her his hand。 The
attendants had accustomed themselves to let him have this honour； on
account of his distinguished voice； so as to allow him to speak by the
way； and retired respectfully so as not to hear what he said。 The ladies
always followed far behind； so that； in the midst of all the Court； he
had； from the chapel to the apartments of Madame de Bourgogne； the full
advantages of a private interviewadvantages that he had availed himself
of several times。 On this day he railed against Nangis to Madame de
Bourgogne； called him by all sorts of names； threatened to tell
everything to the King and to Madame de Maintenon； and to the Duc de
Bourgogne； squeezed her fingers as if he would break them； and led her in
this manner； like a madman as he was； to her apartments。 Upon entering
them she was ready to swoon。 Trembling all over she entered her
wardrobe； called one of her favourite ladies； Madame de Nogaret； to her；
related what had occurred； saying she knew not how she had reached her
rooms； or how it was she had not sunk beneath the floor； or died。 She
had never been so dismayed。 The same day Madame de Nogaret related this
to Madame de Sain