ThissacrificewhichtheDucwaspreparedtomakecausedthePrincesstoforgetalltheangershehadshown。ShechangedthesubjectandbegantospeakoftheindiscretiondisplayedbyMadameinmakingthefirstadvancesandoftheconsiderableadvantageswhichhewouldgainifhemarriedher。Intheend，withoutsayinganythingkindtotheDucdeGuise，shemadehimrecallathousandthingshehadfoundsopleasinginMlle。deMezieres。Althoughtheyhadnothadprivateconversationforalongtime，theyfoundthemselvesattunedtooneanother，andtheirthoughtswentalongatrackwhichtheybothhadtravelledinthepast。AttheendofthisagreeablemeetingtheDucwasleftinastateofconsiderablehappiness，andthePrincesswasnotalittlemovedtothinkthathetrulylovedher。However，intheprivacyofherroomshebecameashamedoftheeasewithwhichshehadacceptedtheDuc'sexcusesandreflectedonthetroubleintowhichshemightbeplungedifsheengagedinsomethingshehadalwaysregardedwithdistasteandonthefrighteningmiserywhichajealoushusbandmightinflictonher。Thesethoughtsmadeheradoptnewresolves，buttheydisappearedthenextdayonthesightoftheDucdeGuise。
　　ThenewalliancebetweentheirfamiliesgavetheDucmanyopportunitiestospeaktoher。HegaveheranexactaccountofallthatpassedbetweenMadameandhimself。HehaddifficultyinallayingthejealousytowhichthebeautyofMadamegaveriseandanynumberofpromisesfailedtoreassureher。ThisjealousyenabledthePrincesstodefendtheremainsofherheartagainsttheadvancesoftheDuc，whoalreadyhadwonthegreaterpartofit。
　　ThemarriageoftheKingtothedaughteroftheEmperorMaximilianfilledtheCourtwithfetesandcelebrations。TheKingputonaballetinwhichMadameandalltheprincessesweretodance;amongthemonlythePrincessdeMontpensiercouldrivalMadameinbeauty。TheDucd'AnjouandfourothersweretomakeanappearanceasMoors;theircostumeswouldallbeidentical，aswasusualinthissortofperformance。Onthefirstoccasiononwhichtheballetwaspresented，theDucdeGuise，beforethedancebeganandbeforehehaddonnedhismask，saidafewwordstothePrincessashewentpasther。ShesawclearlythatthePrinceherhusbandhadnoticedthis，whichmadeherfeeluneasy。
　　Alittlelater，seeingtheDucd'AnjouinhismaskandMoorishcostume，whowascomingtospeaktoher，shemistookhimfortheDucdeGuiseandsaidtohim"DonothaveeyesforanyonebutMadamethisevening：Ishallnotbeintheleastjealous。Iamorderingyou。Iambeingwatched。Donotcomenearmeagain。"Assoonasshehadsaidthisshemovedaway。
　　TheDucd'Anjoustoodtherethunderstruck。Hesawthathehadasuccessfulrival：thereferencetoMadamemadeitobviousthatthiswastheDucdeGuise，andlefthiminnodoubtthathissisterwastoplaysecondfiddletothePrincessdeMontpensier。
　　Jealousy，frustrationandragejoiningtothedislikewhichhealreadyhadfortheDucrousedhimtoaviolentfury;andhewouldhavegiventhereandthensomebloodymarkofhistemperhadnotthatdissimulationwhichcamenaturallytohimpreventedhimfromattackingtheDucdeGuiseinthepresentcircumstances。
　　Hedidnot，however，refrainfromthepleasureofdisclosinghisknowledgeofthissecretaffair。HeapproachedtheDucdeGuiseastheyleftthesalonwheretheyhadbeendancingandsaidtohim"Topresumetoraiseyoureyestowardsmysister，aswellasstealingtheaffectionofthewomanIloveisaltogethertoomuch。ThepresenceoftheKingpreventsmefromtakinganyactionjustnow，butrememberthatthelossofyourlifemaybe，oneday，theleastthingwithwhichIshallpunishyourimpertinence。"
　　TheprideoftheDucdeGuisewasnotaccustomedtosubmittamelytosuchthreats，buthewasunabletoreplybecauseatthatmomenttheKingcalledbothofthemtohisside。Hedidnotforget，however，andtriedallhislifetoexactrevenge。
　　FromthateveningtheDucd'AnjouendeavouredanallsortsofwaystoturntheKingagainsttheDucdeGuise。HepersuadedtheKingthatMadamewouldneveragreetoherproposedmarriagetotheKingofNavarreaslongastheDucdeGuisewasallowedtohaveanycontactwithher;andthatitwasunacceptablethatasubject，forhisownvainpurposes，shouldplaceanobstacleinthewayofwhatcouldbringpeacetoFrance。TheKingalreadydislikedtheDucdeGuiseandthisspeechinflamedhisdislikesomuchthatthenextdaywhentheDucpresentedhimselftojointheballattheQueen'sapartments，hestoodinthedoorwayandaskedhimbrusquelywherehewasgoing。TheDuc，withoutshowinganysurpriseansweredthathehadcometoofferhismosthumbleservices，towhichtheKingrepliedthathehadnoneedofanyserviceswhichtheDucmightprovide，andturnedawaywithoutanyotheracknowledgement。TheDucwasnotdeterredfromenteringtheroom，hisfeelingsincensedbothagainsttheKingandtheDucd'Anjou。Hisnaturalprideledhim，asanactofdefiance，topaymoreattentiontoMadamethanusual，andwhattheDucd'AnjouhadtoldhimpreventedhimfromlookinginthedirectionofthePrincessdeMontpensier。
　　TheDucd'Anjouwatchedbothofthemwithcloseattention。ThePrincess'sexpression，inspiteofherself，showedsomechagrinwhentheDucdeGuisespokewithMadame。TheDucd'Anjouwhorealisedfromwhatshehadsaidtohim，whenshemistookhimfortheDucdeGuise，thatshewasjealous，hopedtocausetrouble。
　　Hedrewclosetoherandsaid，"ItisinyourinterestandnotinminethatImusttellyouthattheDucdeGuisedoesnotdeservethechoiceyouhavemadeofhiminpreferencetome，achoicewhichyoucannotdenyandofwhichIamwellaware，heisdeceivingyoumadame，andbetrayingyouformysisterashebetrayedherforyou。Heisamanmovedonlybyambition，butsincehehasthegoodfortunetopleaseyou，thatisenough;I
　　shallnotattempttostandinthewayofafelicitywhichwithoutdoubtImeritmorethanhe。Itwouldbeundignifiedformetopersistintryingtogaintheheartwhichisalreadypossessedbyanother。ItisbadenoughtohaveattractedonlyyourindifferenceandIwouldnotliketohavethisreplacedbydislikebywearyingyouwithendlessprotestationsofunwelcomedevotion。"
　　TheDucd'Anjouwhowasgenuinelytouchedbyloveandsadness，washardlyabletocompletethisspeech，andalthoughhehadbeguninaspiritofspiteandvengeance，hewassoovercomewhenhethoughtofthePrincess'sbeautyandofwhathewaslosingbygivingupallhopeofbeingherlover。thatwithoutwaitingforherreplyhelefttheball，sayingthathefeltunwell，andwenthometonursehisgrief。
　　ThePrincessdeMontpensierstayedthere，upsetandworriedasonemightimagine。Toseeherreputationandhersecretinthehandsofasuitorwhomshehadrejectedandtolearnfromhimthatshewasbeingdeceivedbyherloverwerenotthingswhichwouldputherintherightframeofmindforaplacededicatedtoenjoyment;shehad，however，toremainwhereshewasandlatergotosupperinthecompanyoftheDuchessdeMontpensier，hermother-in-law。
　　TheDucdeGuisewhohadfollowedthemtohissister'shouse，wasdyingtotellherwhattheDucd'Anjouhadsaidthedaybefore，buttohisastonishmentwhenhedidhavetheopportunitytospeaktoher，hewasoverwhelmedbyreproacheswhichweretumbledoutinsuchangryprofusionthatallhecouldgatherwasthathewasaccusedofinfidelityandtreachery。Dismayedatfindinghimselfinthisunhappysituationwhenhehadhopedforconsolation，andbeingsomuchinlovewiththePrincessthathecouldnotbeartobeunsureifhewaslovedinreturn，hetookasuddendecision。
　　"Ishalllayyourdoubtsatrest，"hesaid。"Iamgoingtodowhatalltheroyalpowercouldnotmakemedo。Itwillcostmemyfortunebutthatisoflittleaccountifitmakesyouhappy。"
　　Hewentstraightfromhissister'shousetothatofhisuncle，thecardinal。HeconvincedhimthathavingfallenintotheKing'sdisfavour，itwasessentialthatitshouldbemadequiteclearthathewouldnotmarryMadame，soheaskedforhismarriagetobearrangedwiththePrincessdePortien，amatterwhichhadpreviouslybeendiscussed。ThenewsofthiswassoonalloverParisandgaverisetomuchsurprise。TheprincessdeMontpensierwasbothhappyandsad。GladtoseethepowershehadovertheDuc，andsorrythatshehadcausedhimtoabandonsomethingsoadvantageousasmarriagetoMadame。TheDucwhohopedthatlovewouldcompensatehimforhismaterialloss，pressedthePrincesstogivehimaprivateaudiencesothathecouldclearuptheunjustaccusationswhichshehadmade。Heobtainedthiswhenshefoundherselfathissister'shouseatatimewhenhissisterwasnotthereandshewasabletospeaktohimalone。TheDuctooktheopportunitytothrowhimselfatherfeetanddescribeallthathehadsufferedbecauseofhersuspicions，andthoughthePrincesswasunabletoforgetwhattheDucd'Anjouhadsaidtoher，thebehaviouroftheDucdeGuisedidmuchtoreassureher。ShetoldhimexactlywhyshebelievedhehadbetrayedherwhichwasbecausetheDucd'Anjouknewwhathecouldonlyhavelearnedfromhim。TheDucdidnothowtodefendhimselfandwasaspuzzledasshetoguesswhatcouldhavegivenawaytheirsecret：atlast，whilethePrincesswasremonstratingwithhimforgivinguptheideaoftheadvantageousmarriagewithMadameandrushingintothatwiththePrincessdePortien，shesaidtohimthathecouldhavebeencertainthatshewouldnotbejealoussinceonthedayoftheballsheherselfhadtoldhimtohaveeyesonlyforMadame。TheDucsaidthatshemighthaveintendedtodosobutthatshecertainlyhadnot。Shemaintainedthatshehad，andintheendtheyreachedthecorrectconclusionthatsheherself，deceivedbytheresemblanceofthecostumes，hadtoldtheDucd'AnjouwhatsheaccusedtheDucdeGuiseoftellinghim。TheDucdeGuisewhohadalmostentirelyreturnedtofavour，didsocompletelyasaresultofthisconversation。ThePrincesscouldnotrefuseherhearttoamanwhohadpossesseditinthepastandhadjustmadesuchasacrificetopleaseher。Sheconsentedtoaccepthisdeclarationandpermittedhimtobelievethatshewasnotunmovedbyhispassion。ThearrivaloftheDuchess，hermother-in-law，putanendtothistete-a-tete，andpreventedtheDucfromdemonstratinghistransportsofjoy。
　　Sometimelater，theCourthavinggonetoBlois，themarriagebetweentheKingofNavarreandMadamewascelebrated。TheDucdeGuisewhowantednothingmorethantheloveofthePrincessdeMontpensier，enjoyedaceremonywhichinothercircumstanceswouldhaveoverwhelmedhimwithdisappointment。
　　TheDucwasnotabletoconcealhislovesowellthatthePrincedeMontpensierdidnotsuspectthatsomethingwasgoingon，andbeingconsumedbyjealousyheorderedhiswifetogotoChampigny。Thisorderwasagreatshocktoher，butshehadtoobey：shefoundawaytosaygoodbyetotheDucdeGuiseprivatelybutshefoundherselfingreatdifficultywhenitcametoameansofprovidingamethodwherebyhecouldwritetoher。
　　AftermuchthoughtshedecidedtomakeuseoftheComtedeChabannes，whomshealwayslookedonasafriendwithoutconsideringthathewasinlovewithher。TheDucdeGuise，whoknewoftheclosefriendshipbetweentheComteandthePrincedeMontpensier，wasatfirstamazedatherchoiceoftheComteasago-between，butsheassuredhimoftheComte'sfidelitywithsuchconvictionthathewaseventuallysatisfied。Hepartedfromherwithalltheunhappinesswhichsuchaseparationcancause。
　　TheComtedeChabannes，whohadbeenillinPariswhilethePrincesswasatBlois，learningthatshewasgoingtoChampignyarrangedtomeetherontheroadandgowithher。Shegreetedhimwithathousandexpressionsoffriendshipanddisplayedanextraordinaryimpatiencetotalktohiminprivate，whichatfirstdelightedhim。JudgehisdismaywhenhefoundthatthisimpatiencewasonlytotellhimthatshewaslovedpassionatelybytheDucdeGuise，alovewhichshereturned。Hewassodistressedthathewasunabletoreply。ThePrincess，whowasengrossedbyherinfatuation，tooknonoticeofhissilence。Shebegantotellhimalltheleastdetailsoftheevents，andhowsheandtheDuchadagreedthatheshouldbethemeansbywhichtheycouldexchangeletters。Thethoughtthatthewomanhelovedexpectedhimtobeofassistancetohisrival，andmadetheproposalasifitwasathinghewouldfindagreeablewasbitterlyhurtful，buthewassomuchincontrolofhimselfthathehidallhisfeelingsfromherandexpressedonlysurpriseatthechangeinherattitude。Hehopedthatthischangewhichremovedeventhefaintesthopefromhimwouldatthesametimechangehisfeelings，buthefoundthePrincesssocharming，hernaturalbeautyhavingbeenenhancedbyacertaingracewhichshehadacquiredatCourtthathefeltthathelovedhermorethanever。Thisremarkabledevotionproducedaremarkableeffect。Heagreedtocarryhisrival'sletterstohisbeloved。
　　ThePrincesswasverydespondentattheabsenceoftheDucdeGuise，andcouldhopeforsolaceonlyfromhisletters。ShecontinuallytormentedtheComtedeChabannestoknowifhehadreceivedanyandalmostblamedhimfornothavingdeliveredonesooner。Atlastsomearrived，broughtbyagentlemanintheDuc'sservice，whichhetooktoherimmediatelysoasnottodelayherpleasureforamomentlongerthannecessary。ThePrincesswasdelightedtohavethemandtorturedthepoorComtebyreadingthemtohim，aswellashertenderandlovingreply。Hetookthisreplytothewaitingcourierevenmoresadlythanhehadmadethedelivery。HeconsoledhimselfalittlebythereflectionthatthePrincesswouldrealisewhathwasdoingforherandwouldshowsomerecognition。Finding，however，thatshedailytreatedhimwithlessconsideration，owingtotheanxietieswhichpreoccupiedher，hetookthelibertyofbegginghertothinkalittleofthesufferingshewascausinghim。ThePrincesswhohadnothinginherheadbuttheDucdeGuise，wassoirritatedbythisapproachthatshetreatedtheComtemuchworsethanshehaddoneonthefirstoccasionwhenhehaddeclaredhisloveforher。Althoughhisdevotionandpatiencehadstoodsomanytrials，thiswastoomuch。HeleftthePrincessandwenttolivewithafriendwhohadahouseintheneighbourhood，fromwherehewrotetoherwithallthebitternessthatherbehaviourhadprovokedandbidheraneternaladieu。
　　ThePrincessbegantorepenthavingdealtsoharshlywithamanoverwhomshehadsomuchinfluence，andbeingunwillingtolosehim，notonlyonaccountoftheirpastfriendship，butalsobecauseofhisvitalroleintheconductofheraffair，shesentamessagetohimtosaythatshewishedtospeaktohimonemoretimeandthatafterwardsshewouldleavehimfreetodoashepleased。Oneisveryvulnerablewhenoneisinlove。TheComtecameback，andinlessthananhourthebeautyofthePrincess，hercharmandafewkindwordsmadehimmoresubmissivethanever，andheevengavehersomelettersfromtheDucdeGuisewhichhehadjustreceived。
　　AtthistimetherewasaschemeafootintheCourttoattracttherealltheleadersoftheHuguenots，withthesecretaimofincludingtheminthehorriblemassacreofSt。Bartholomew'sday。
　　Aspartofthisattempttolullthemintoafalsesenseofsecurity，theKingdismissedfromhispresencealltheprincesofthehousesofBourbonanddeGuise。ThePrincedeMontpensierreturnedtoChampigney，totheutterdismayofhiswife，theDucdeGuisewenttothehomeofhisuncle，theCardinaldeLorraine。
　　LoveandidlenessinducedinhimsuchaviolentdesiretoseethePrincessdeMontpensierthat，withoutconsideringtheriskstoherandtohimself，hemadesomeexcusetotravel，andleavinghissuiteinasmalltown，hetookwithhimonlythegentlemanwhohadalreadymadeseveraltripstoChampigny，andwenttherebypost-chaise。AsheknewnoonewhomhecouldapproachbuttheComtedeChabannes，hehadthegentlemanwriteanoterequestingameetingatacertainspot。TheComte，believingthatthiswassolelyforthepurposeofreceivinglettersfromtheDucdeGuise，wentthere，butwasmostsurprisedtoseetheDuchimselfandequallydismayed。TheDuc，fullofhisownplans，tooknomorenoticeoftheComte'sdismaythanhadthePrincessofhissilencewhenshetoldhimofheramour。HedescribedhispassioninfloridtermsandclaimedthathewouldinfalliblydieifthePrincesscouldnotbepersuadedtoseehim。TheComterepliedcoldlythathewouldtellthePrincessallthattheDucwantedtoconveyandwouldreturnwithherresponse。HethenwentbacktoChampignywithhisownemotionsinsuchaturmoilthathehardlyknewwhathewasdoing。HethoughtofsendingtheDucawaywithoutsayinganythingtothePrincess，butthefaithfulnesswithwhichhehadpromisedtoservehersoonputanendtothatidea。Hearrivedwithoutknowingwhatheshoulddo，andfindingthatthePrincewasouthunting，hewentstraighttothePrincess'sapartment。Shesawthathewasdistressedanddismissedherwomeninordertofindoutwhattroubledhim。Hetoldher，ascalmlyashecould，thattheDucdeGuisewasaleaguedistantandthathewantedpassionatelytoseeher。ThePrincessgaveacryatthisnewsandherconfusionwasalmostasgreatasthatoftheComte。Atfirstshewasfullofjoyatthethoughtofseeingthemanshelovedsotenderly，butwhensheconsideredhowmuchthiswasagainstherprinciples，andthatshecouldnotseeherloverwithoutintroducinghimintoherhomeduringthenightandwithoutherhusband'sknowledge，shefoundherselfintheutmostdifficulty。TheComteawaitedherreplyasifitwereamatteroflifeordeath。Realisingthathersilenceindicatedheruncertainty，hetookthelibertyofpresentingtoheralltheperilstowhichshewouldbeexposedbysuchameeting，andwishingtomakeitclearthathewasnotdoingthisinhisowninterest，hesaidthatif，inspiteofallthathehadsaidshewasdeterminedtoseetheDuc，ratherthanseeherseekforaidfromhelperslessfaithfulthanhimself，hewouldbringtheDuctoher。"YesMadame"hesaid，"IshallgoandfindtheDucandbringhimtoyourapartment，foritistoodangeroustoleavehimforlongwhereheis。""Buthowcanthisbedone?"
　　interruptedthePrincess。"Ha!Madame，"criedtheComte，"itisthendecided，sinceyouspeakonlyofthemethod。Ishallleadhimthroughthepark;onlyorderoneofyourmaidswhomyoucantrusttolower，exactlyatmidnight，thelittledrawbridgewhichleadsfromyourantechambertotheflowergardenandleavetheresttome。"HavingsaidthisheroseandwithoutwaitingforanyfurthercommentfromthePrincess，heleft，remountedhishorseandwenttolookfortheDucdeGuise，whowaswaitingforhimwiththegreatestimpatience。
　　ThePrincessremainedinsuchastateofconfusionthatitwassometimebeforeshecametohersenses。HerfirstthoughtwastosendsomeoneaftertheComtetotellhimnottobringtheDuc，butshecouldnotbringherselftodoso。Shethenthoughtthatfailingthis，shehadonlynottohavethedrawbridgelowered，andshebelievedthatshewouldcontinuewiththisresolve，butwhenthehouroftheassignationdrewnearshewasnolongerabletoresistthedesiretoseetheloverwhomshelongedfor，andshegaveinstructionstooneofherwomenonthemethodbywhichtheDucwastobeintroducedintoherapartment。
　　MeanwhiletheDucandtheComtewereapproachingChampigny，butinverydifferingframesofmind。TheDucwasfullofjoyandallthehappinessofexpectation。TheComtewasinamoodofdespairandanger，whichtemptedhimattimestorunhisswordthroughhisrival。Theyatlastreachedthepark，wheretheylefttheirhorsesinthecareoftheDuc'ssquire，andpassingthroughagapinthewalltheycametotheflowergarden。TheComtehadalwaysretainedsomehopethatthePrincesswouldcometohersensesandresolvenottoseetheDuc，butwhenhesawthatthedrawbridgewasloweredherealisedthathishopewasinvain。Hewastemptedtotakesomedesperatemeasure，buthewasawarethatanynoisewouldbeheardbythePrincedeMontpensierwhoseroomslookedoutontothesameflower-garden，andthatallthesubsequentdisorderwouldfallontheheadoftheonehelovedmost。HecalmedhimselfandledtheDuctothepresenceofthePrincess。
　　AlthoughthePrincesssignaledthatshewouldlikehimtostayintheroomduringtheinterview，hewasunwillingtodoso，andretiredtoalittlepassagewhichranalongsidethePrincess'sapartment，apreytothesaddestthoughtswhichcouldafflictadisappointedlover。
　　Now，althoughtheyhadmadeverylittlenoisewhilecrossingthebridge，thePrincedeMontpensierwasawakeandheardit。Hemadeoneofhisservantsgetupandgotoseewhatitwas。Theservantputhisheadoutofthewindowandinthedarknesshecouldmakeoutthatthedrawbridgewaslowered。Hetoldhismasterwhothenorderedhimtogointotheparkandfindoutwhatwasgoingon。A
　　momentlaterhegotuphimself，beingdisturbedbywhathethoughthehadheard，thatisfootstepsonthebridgeleadingtohiswife'squarters。
　　AshewasgoingtowardsthelittlepassagewheretheComtewaswaiting，thePrincesswhowassomewhatembarrassedatbeingalonewiththeDucdeGuise，askedthelatterseveraltimestocomeintotheroom。HerefusedtodosoandasshecontinuedtopresshimandashewasfuriouslyangryheansweredhersoloudlythathewasheardbythePrincedeMontpensier，butsoindistinctlythatthePrinceheardonlyaman'svoicewithoutbeingabletorecogniseitasthatoftheComte。
　　TheseeventswouldhaveinfuriatedacharactermoreplacidandlessjealousthanthePrincedeMontpensier。Hehurledhimselfagainstthedoor，callingforittobeopened，andcruellysurprisingthePrincess，theDucdeGuiseandtheComtedeChabannes。Thislast，hearingthePrince'svoice，sawimmediatelythatitwasimpossibletopreventhimfrombelievingthattherewassomeoneinhiswife'sroom，andthathewasinsuchastatethatifhefoundthatitwastheDucdeGuisehemightkillhimbeforetheeyesofthePrincessandthatevenherlifemightbeatrisk。Hedecided，inanactofextraordinarygenerosity，tosacrificehimselftosaveasuccessfulrivalandanungratefulmistress。
　　WhilethePrincewasbatteringonthedoor，hewenttotheDuc，whohadnoideawhattodo，puthiminthecareofthewomanwhohadarrangedhisentrybythebridgeandtoldhertoshowhimthewayout。ScarcelyhadheleftwhenthePrincehavingbrokendownthedoorenteredtheroomlikeamanpossessed。HoweverwhenhesawonlytheComtedeChabanne，motionless，leaningonatablewithalookofinfinitesadnessonhisface，hestoppedshort。
　　Theastonishmentoffindinghisbestfriendaloneatnightinhiswife'sroomdeprivedhimofspeech。ThePrincesshadcollapsedontosomecushionsandneverperhapshasfateputthreepeopleinamoreunhappyposition。AtlastthePrincemadeanattempttomakesenseofthechaosbeforehiseyes。HeaddressedtheComteinatoneofvoicewhichstillhadsomefriendliness，"WhatisthisIsee?"hesaid。"IsitpossiblethatamanIlovesodearlyhaschosenamongallotherwomentoseducemywife?Andyoumadame，"hesaid，turningtohiswife，"wasitnotenoughtodeprivemeofyourloveandmyhonourwithoutdeprivingmeoftheonemanwhocouldhaveconsoledmeinsuchcircumstances?Answerme，oneofyou，"hesaidtothem，"andexplainthisaffair，whichIcannotbelieveiswhatitseems。"ThePrincesswasincapableofreplyingandtheComteopenedhismouthonceortwicebutwasunabletospeak。
　　"Youseemeasacriminal"hesaidatlast，"andunworthyofthefriendshipyouhaveshownme;butthesituationisnotwhatyoumaythinkitis。Iammoreunhappythanyouandmoredespairing。
　　Idonotknowhowtotellyoumorethanthat。Mydeathwouldavengeyou，andifyouweretokillmenowyouwouldbedoingmeafavour。"Thesewords，spokenwithanairofthedeepestsorrow，andinamannerwhichdeclaredhisinnocenceinsteadofenlighteningthePrinceconfirmedhimintheviewthatsomethingmysteriouswasgoingonwhichhedidnotunderstand。Hisunhappinesswasincreasedbythisuncertainty。"Killmeyourself，"hesaid，"orgivemesomeexplanationofyourwordsforIcanunderstandnothing。Youoweittomyfriendship，youoweittomyrestraint，foranyonebutmewouldhavealreadytakenyourlifetoavengesuchanaffront。"
　　"Theappearancesarewhollymisleading"interruptedtheComte。
　　"Ah!Itistoomuch。Imustbeavengedandclearthingsuplater，"saidthePrince，advancingtowardstheComtelikeamancarriedawaybyrage。ThePrincess，fearingbloodshedwhichwasnotpossibleasherhusbanddidnothaveasword，placedherselfbetweenthetwoofthemandfellfaintingatherhusband'sfeet。
　　ThePrincewasevenmoreaffectedbythisthanhewasbythecalmnessoftheComtewhenheconfrontedhim，andasifhecouldnolongerbearthesightofthosetwopeoplewhohadcausedhimsuchdistress，heturnedawayandfellonhiswife'sbed，overcomebygrief。TheComtedeChabannes，filledwithremorseathavingabusedthefriendshipofwhichhehadhadsomanymarks，andbelievingthathecouldneveratoneforwhathehaddone，lefttheroomabruptlyandpassingthroughthePrincess'sapartmentwherehefoundallthedoorsopen，hewentdowntothecourtyard。Hehadahorsebroughttohimandrodeoffintothecountryledonlybyhisfeelingsofhopelessness。ThePrincedeMontpensier，seeingthathiswifedidnotrecoverfromherfaint，lefthertoherwomenandretiredtohisownquartersgreatlydisturbed。
　　TheDucdeGuisehavinggotoutofthepark，hardlyknowingwhathewasdoingbeinginsuchastateofturmoil，putseveralleaguesbetweenhimselfandChampigny，butcouldgonofurtherwithoutnewsofthePrincess。HestoppedintheforestandsenthissquiretofindoutfromtheComtedeChabanneswhathadhappened。ThesquirefoundnotraceofChabannesbutwastoldbyothersthatthePrincesswasseriouslyill。TheDuc'sinquietudewasincreasedbywhatthesquirehadtoldhim，butashecoulddonothinghewasconstrainedtogobacktohisuncle'sinordernottoraisesuspicionsbytoolonganabsence。
　　TheDuc'ssquirehadbeencorrectwhenhesaidthatthePrincesswasseriouslyill，forassoonasherwomenhadputhertobedshewasseizedbyaviolentfeverwithhorriblephantasies，sothatbytheseconddayherlifewasdespairedof。ThePrincepretendedthathehimselfwasillsothatnooneshouldbesurprisedthathedidnotvisithiswife'sroom。TheorderwhichhereceivedtoreturntotheCourt，towhichalltheCatholicprinceswerebeingrecalledinpreparationforthemassacreoftheHuguenots，relievedhimofhisembarrassment。HewentofftoPariswithoutknowingwhathehadtohopeorfearabouthiswife'sillness。HehadhardlyarrivedtherewhentheassaultontheHuguenotswassignalisedbytheattackonAdmiraldeChatillon。Twodayslatercamethedisgracefulmassacre，nowsowellknownthroughoutEurope。
　　ThepoorComtedeChabanne，whohadgonetohidehimselfawayinoneoftheoutersuburbsofParistoabandonhimselftohismisery，wascaughtupintheruinoftheHuguenots。Thepeopletowhosehousehehadretired，havingrecognisedhim，andhavingrecalledthathehadoncebeensuspectedofbeingofthatpersuasion，murderedhimonthesamenightwhichwasfataltosomanypeople。ThenextdaythePrincedeMontpensier，whowasinthatareaonduty，passedalongthestreetwherethebodyoftheComtelay。Hewasatfirstshockedbythispitifulsightand，recallinghispastfriendship，wasgrieved;butthenthememoryoftheoffence，whichhebelievedtheComtehadcommitted，madehimfeelpleasedthathehadbeenavengedbythehandofchance。
　　TheDucdeGuisewhohadusedtheopportunityofthemassacretotakeamplerevengeforthedeathofhisfather，graduallytooklessandlessinterestintheConditionofthePrincessofMontpensier;andhavingmettheMarquisedeNoirmoutier，awomanofwitandbeauty，andonewhopromisedmorethanthePrincessdeMontpensier，heattachedhimselftoher，anattachmentwhichlastedalifetime。
　　ThePrincess'sillnessreachedacrisisandthenbegantoremit。
　　Sherecoveredhersensesandwassomewhatrelievedbytheabsenceofherhusband。Shewasexpectedtolive，butherhealthrecoveredveryslowlybecauseofherlowspirits，whichwerefurtherdepressedbytherealisationthatshehadreceivednonewsoftheDucdeGuiseduringallherillness。Sheaskedherwomeniftheyhadnotseenanyone，iftheyhadnothadanyletters，andfindingthattherehadbeennothing，shesawherselfasthemostwretchedofwomen，onewhohadriskedallforamanwhohadabandonedher。AfreshblowwasthenewsofthedeathoftheComtedeChabannes，whichherhusbandmadesuresheheardaboutassoonaspossible。TheingratitudeoftheDucdeGuisemadeherfeelevenmoredeeplythelossofamanwhosefidelitysheknewsowell。Thesedisappointmentsweighedheavilyuponherandreducedhertoastateasseriousasthatfromwhichshehadrecentlyrecovered。MadamedeNoirmoutierwasawomanwhotookasmuchcaretopubliciseheraffairsasothersdotoconcealthem。
　　HerrelationswiththeDucdeGuiseweresoopenthat，eventhoughfarawayandill，thePrincessheardsomuchaboutitthatshewasleftinnodoubt。Thiswasthefinalstraw。Shehadlosttheregardofherhusband，theheartofherlover，andthemostloyalofherfriends。Shetooktoherbed，anddiednotlongafterintheflowerofheryouth。Shewasoneoftheloveliestofwomenandcouldhavebeenoneofthehappiestifshehadnotstrayedsofarfromthepathofprudenceandvirtue。