The Princesse de Clèves (The Princess of Cleves)

M. de Clèves continues his story. Mme de Tournon, a widow for years, has recently died, and her secrets have been revealed. Clèves’s confidant, Sancerre, was having an affair with her, which is taboo in the case of a widow publicly committed to mourning her dead husband. On her death, however, Sancerre learned that Mme de Tournon was carrying on an affair with another man named Estoutville, leading to much despair. This story proves instructive for Mme de Clèves (as author now titles the newly married central character) and she returns to Paris, resolved to remain faithful to her husband.

The Dauphine immediately discloses the latest gossip to Mme de Clèves. It seems that M. de Nemours’s claims to Elizabeth’s hand are falling through, and rumor has it that he is in love with someone else. The Dauphine is intensely interested, and the Princess disturbed, by this news. Soon, M. de Nemours visits Mme de Clèves under the pretense of offering condolences for her mother’s death. He speaks in couched terms about the unnamed object of his affection. The Princess has no doubt that the unnamed object of his affection is herself, and though she reveals nothing in public, her anguish increases.