Such is the delicacy which prevails here in affairs of love.

The Duke is very passionate.  When Madame de Nesle dismissed him he almost died of vexation; he looked as if he was about to give up the ghost, and for six months he did not know what to do.

The Marquis de Villequier, the Duc d’Aumont’s son, one day visited the Marquise de Nesle.  She took it into her head to ask him if he was very fond of his wife.  Villequier replied, “I am not in love with her; I see her very little; our humours differ greatly.  She is serious, and for my part I like pleasure and gaiety.  I feel for her a friendship founded on esteem, for she is one of the most virtuous women in France.”

Madame de Nesle, of whom no man could say so much, took this for an insult, and complained of it to the Duke, who promised to avenge her.  Some days afterwards he invited young Villequier to dine with him at the Marquis de Nesle’s; there were, besides Madame de Nesle, the Marquis de Gevres, Madame de Coligny, and others.  During dinner the Duke began thus: 

“A great many men fancy they are sure of the fidelity of their wives, but it is a mistake.  I thought to protect myself from this common fate by marrying a monster, but it served me nought; for a villain named Du Challar, who was more ugly than I am, played me false.  As to the Marquis de Gevres, as he will never marry * * * , he will be exempt; but you, Monsieur de Nesle, you are so and so.”  Nesle, who did not believe it, although it was very true, only laughed.  Then addressing himself to Villequier, he said, “And you, Villequier, don’t you think you are so?” He was silent.  The Duke continued, “Yes, you are befooled by the Chevalier de Pesay.”

Villequier blushed, but at last said, “I confess that up to this moment I had no reason to believe it; but since you put me into such good company I have no right to complain.”

I do not think Madame de Nesle was well revenged.

I remember that the Duke, who was terribly ill-made, said one day to the late Monsieur, who was a straight, well-formed person, that a mask had taken him for Monsieur.  The latter, somewhat mortified at such a mistake, replied, “I lay that, with all other wrongs done to me, at the foot of the Cross.”

Ever since the Duchess espoused the party of her son against her brother and his nephews, the Duke has displayed a great fondness for his mother, about whom he never disturbed himself before.

Mdlle. de Polignac made the Duke believe she was very fond of him.  He entertained great suspicions of her, and had her watched, and learnt that she was carrying on a secret intrigue with the Chevalier of Bavaria.  He reproached her with it, and she denied the accusation.  The Duke cautioned her not to think that she could deceive him.  She protested that he had been imposed upon.  As soon, however, as she had quitted him she went to the Chevalier’s house; and the Duke, who had