You must also admit, Marquis, that you deceive yourself in two ways in your calculation.  You thought you respected the Countess more than the Chevalier does, on the contrary you see that the gallant speeches of the Chevalier are without effect, while you begrudge them to the heart of your beauty.  On the other hand, you figure that her preoccupied air, indifferent and inattentive manner are proofs or forewarnings of your unhappiness.  Undeceive yourself.  There is no more certain proof of a passion than the efforts made to hide it.  In a word, when the Countess treats you kindly, whatever proofs you may give her of your affection, when she sees you without alarm on the point of confessing your love, I tell you that her heart is caught; she loves you, on my word.

By the way, I forgot to reply to that part of your letter concerning myself.  Yes, Marquis, I constantly follow the method which I prescribed at the commencement of our correspondence.  There are few matters in my letters that I have not used as subjects of conversation in my social reunions.  I rarely suggest ideas of any importance to you, without having taken the opinions of my friends on their verity.  Sometimes it is Monsieur de la Bruyere, sometimes Monsieur de Saint-Evremond whom I consult; another time it will be Monsieur l’Abbe de Chateauneuf.  You must admire my good faith, Marquis, for I might claim the credit of the good I write you, but I frankly avow that you owe it only to the people whom I receive at my house.

Apropos of men of distinguished merit, M. de la Rochefoucauld has just sent me word that he would like to call on me.  I fixed to-morrow, and you might do well to be present, but do not forget how much he loves you.  Adieu.

XVIII

When a Woman Is Loved She Need Not Be Told of It

I have been engaged in some new reflections on the condition you are in, Marquis, and on the embarrassment in which you continue.  After all, why do you deem it necessary to make a formal declaration of love?  Can it be because you have read about such things in our old romances, in which the proceedings in courtship were as solemn as those of the tribunals?  That would be too technical.  Believe me, let it alone; as I told you in my last letter, the fire lighted, will acquire greater force every day, and you will see, that without having said you love, you will be farther advanced than if you were frightened by avowals which our fathers insisted should worry the women.  Avowals absolutely useless in themselves, and which always incumber a passion with several nebulous days.  They retard its progress.  Bear this well in mind, Marquis:  A woman is much better persuaded that she is loved by what she guesses than by what she is told.