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Part IV. answered she. I was ill, and I sent one of my women to make my excuses.—You was ill then only for him, replied monsieur de Cleves, since you admitted the visits of others: Why this distinction with respect to the duke de Nemours? Why is not he to you as another man? Why should you be afraid of seeing him? Why do you let him perceive that you are so? Why do you show him that you make use of the power which his passion gives you over him? Would you dare refuse to see him, but that you knew he distinguishes your rigour from incivility? But why should you exercise that rigour towards him? From a person like you, all things are favours, except indifference.—I did not think, replied madam de Cleves, whatever suspicions you have of the duke de Nemours, that you could reproach me for not admitting a visit from him.—But I do reproach you, madam, replied he, and I have good ground for so doing; why should you not see him, if he has said nothing to you? But madam, he has spoke to you; if his passion had been expressed only by silence, it would not have made so great an impression upon you; you have not thought fit to tell me the whole truth; you have concealed the greatest part from me; you have repented even of the little you have acknowledged; and you have not the resolution to go on; I am more unhappy than I imagined, more unhappy than any other man in the world. You are my wife; I love you as my mistress, and I see you at the same time in love with another, with the most amiable man of the court; and he sees you every day, and knows you are in love with him: Alas! I believed that you would conquer your passion for him; but sure I had lost my reason when I believed it was possible.—I do not know, replied madam de Cleves very sorrowfully, whether you was to blame in judging favourably of so extraordinary a proceeding as mine; nor do I know if I was not mistaken when I thought you would do me justice.—Doubt it not, madam, replied monsieur de Cleves,