ght her to
herself again, and looking at him, without having heard what he had
said to her, full of her own thoughts, and afraid lest her husband
should see him with her, "For God's sake," says she, "leave me to
myself in quiet." "Alas, Madam," answered he, "I disturb you too
little; what is it you can complain of? I dare not speak to you, I
dare not look upon you, I tremble whenever I approach you. How have I
drawn upon myself what you have said to me, and why do you show me that
I am in part the cause of the trouble I see you in?" Madam de Cleves
was very sorry to have given the Duke an opportunity of explaining
himself more clearly than ever he had done before; she left him without
making any answer, and went home with her mind more agitated than ever.
Her husband perceived her concern was increased, and that she was
afraid he would speak to her of what had passed, and followed her into
her closet; "Do not shun me, Madam," says he, "I will say nothing to
you that shall displease you; I ask pardon for the surprise I gave you
a while ago; I am sufficiently punished by what I have learnt from it;
the Duke de Nemours was of all men he whom I most feared; I see the
danger you are in; command yourself for your own sake, and, if it is
possible, for mine; I do not ask this of you as a husband, but as a man
whose happiness wholly depends on you, and who loves you more violently
and more tenderly than he whom your heart prefers to me." Monsieur de
Cleves was melted upon speaking these words, and could scarce make an
end of them; his wife was so moved, she burst into tears, and embraced
him with a tenderness and sorrow that put him into a condition not very
different from her own; they continued silent a while, and parted
without having the power to speak to one another.

All things were ready for the marriage of Madame, and the Duke of Alva
was arrived to espouse her; he was received with all the ceremony and
magnificence that could be displayed on such an occasion; the King sent
to meet him the Prince of Conde, the Cardinals of Loraine and Guise,
the Dukes of Loraine and Ferrara, d'Aumale, de Bouillon, de Guise, and
de Nemours; they had a great number of gentlemen, and a great many
pages in livery; the King himself, attended with two hundred gentlemen,
and the Constable at their head, received the Duke of Alva at the first
gate of the Louvre; the Duke would have kneeled down, but the King
refused it, and made him walk by