She spoke of it to me the following year, after I had left her house.

This induced me to write her a letter upon the subject, which will be found in my collections, and wherein I gave such of my reasons as I could make public, without exposing Madam le Vasseur and her family; the most determinative of them came from that quarter, and these I kept profoundly secret.
I can rely upon the discretion of Madam Dupin, and the friendship of Madam de Chenonceaux; I had the same dependence upon that of Madam de Francuiel, who, however, was long dead before my secret made its way into the world.

This it could never have done except by means of the persons to whom I intrusted it, nor did it until after my rupture with them.

By this single fact they are judged; without exculpating myself from the blame I deserve, I prefer it to that resulting from their malignity.

My fault is great, but it was an error.