MadamdeMercoeurreceivedthemwithagreatdealofjoy，andthoughtofnothingbutgivingthemallthepleasuresanddiversionsofthecountry；oneday，astheywerehuntingastag，theDukedeNemourslosthimselfintheforest，anduponenquiringhiswaywastoldhewasnearColomiers；atthatword，Colomiers，withoutfurtherreflection，orsomuchasknowingwhatdesignhewasupon，hegallopedonfullspeedthewaythathadbeenshowedhim；asherodealonghecamebychancetothemade-waysandwalks，whichhejudgedledtothecastle：attheendofthesewalkshefoundapavilion，atthelowerendofwhichwasalargeroomwithtwoclosets，theoneopeningintoaflower-garden，andtheotherlookingintoaspaciouswalkinthepark；heenteredthepavilion，andwouldhavestoppedtoobservethebeautyofit，ifhehadnotseeninthewalkthePrinceandPrincessofCleves，attendedwithanumeroustrainoftheirdomestics。AshedidnotexpecttomeetMonsieurdeClevesthere，whomhehadleftwiththeKing，hethoughtatfirstofhidinghimself；heenteredtheclosetwhichlookedintotheflower-garden，withdesigntogooutthatwaybyadoorwhichopenedtotheforest；butobservingMadamdeClevesandherhusbandweresatdownunderthepavilion，andthattheirattendantsstayedinthepark，andcouldnotcometohimwithoutpassingbytheplacewhereMonsieurandMadamdeCleveswere，hecouldnotdenyhimselfthepleasureofseeingthisPrincess，norresistthecuriosityhehadtohearherconversationwithahusband，whogavehimmorejealousythananyofhisrivals。HeheardMonsieurdeClevessaytohiswife，\"ButwhywillyounotreturntoParis？Whatcankeepyouhereinthecountry？Youhaveoflatetakenafancyforsolitude，atwhichIambothsurprisedandconcerned，becauseitdeprivesmeofyourcompany：
Ifindtoo，youaremoremelancholythanusual，andIamafraidyouhavesomecauseofgrief。\"\"Ihavenothingtotroublemymind，\"answeredshewithanairofconfusion，\"butthereissuchabustleatCourt，andsuchamultitudeofpeoplealwaysatyourhouse，thatitisimpossiblebutbothbodyandmindshouldbefatigued，andonecannotbutdesirerepose。\"\"Repose，\"
answeredhe，\"isnotveryproperforoneofyourage；youareathome，andatCourt，insuchamannerascannotoccasionweariness，andIamratherafraidyoudesiretoliveapartfromme。\"\"Youwoulddomegreatwrongtothinkso，\"repliedshewithyetmoreconfusion，\"butIbegyoutoleavemehere；ifyoucouldstayhere，andwithoutcompany，Ishouldbeverygladofit；nothingwouldbemoreagreeabletomethanyourconversationinthisretirement，providedyouwouldapprovenottohaveaboutyouthatinfinitenumberofpeople，whoinamannerneverleaveyou。\"\"Ah！Madam，\"criesMonsieurdeCleves，\"bothyourlooksandwordsconvincemethatyouhavereasonstodesiretobealone，whichIdon’tknow；Iconjureyoutotellthemme。\"Heurgedheragreatwhiletoinformhim，withoutbeingabletoobligehertoit；andaftershehadexcusedherselfinamannerwhichstillincreasedherhusband’scuriosity，shecontinuedinadeepsilence，withhereyescastdownthen，takingupthediscourseonasudden，andlookinguponhim，\"Forcemenot，\"
saidshe，\"toconfessathingtoyouwhichIhavenotthepowertoconfess，thoughIhaveoftendesignedit；rememberonly，thatitisnotprudentawomanofmyyears，andmistressofherownconduct，shouldremainexposedinthemidstofaCourt。\"\"Whatisit，Madam，\"criedMonsieurdeCleves，\"thatyouleadmetoimagine？Idarenotspeakit，forfearofoffendingyou。\"
MadamdeClevesmakingnoanswer，hersilenceconfirmedherhusbandinwhathethought；\"Yousaynothingtome，\"sayshe，\"andthattellsmeclearly，thatIamnotmistaken。\"\"Alas，sir，\"answeredshe，fallingonherknees，\"Iamgoingtomakeaconfessiontoyou，suchasnowomaneveryetmadetoherhusband；