[Louise de la Valliere by Alexandre Dumas Pere]@TWC D-Link bookLouise de la Valliere CHAPTER XXXVII 11/13
Do you know her ?" she added, observing Raoul start suddenly. "I have heard her name." "She, too, loves with her whole heart; and her last letters inform me she is happy, and her affection is, I conclude, returned.
I told you, Monsieur de Bragelonne, that although I possess half of her nature, I do not share her happiness.
But let us now speak of yourself; whom do you love in France ?" "A young girl, as soft and pure as a lily." "But if she loves you, why are you sad ?" "I have been told that she ceases to love me." "You do not believe it, I trust ?" "He who wrote me so does not sign his letter." "An anonymous denunciation! some treachery, be assured," said Miss Grafton. "Stay," said Raoul, showing the young girl a letter which he had read over a thousand times; she took it from his hand and read as follows: "VICOMTE,--You are perfectly right to amuse yourself yonder with the lovely faces of Charles II.'s court, for at Louis XIV.'s court, the castle in which your affections are enshrined is being besieged.
Stay in London altogether, poor vicomte, or return without delay to Paris." "There is no signature," said Miss Mary. "None." "Believe it not, then." "Very good; but here is a second letter, from my friend De Guiche, which says, 'I am lying here wounded and ill.
Return, Raoul, oh, return!'" "What do you intend doing ?" inquired the young girl, with a feeling of oppression at her heart. "My intention, as soon as I received this letter, was immediately to take my leave of the king." "When did you receive it ?" "The day before yesterday." "It is dated Fontainebleau." "A singular circumstance, do you not think, for the court is now at Paris? At all events, I would have set off; but when I mentioned my intention to the king, he began to laugh, and said to me, 'How comes it, monsieur l'amassadeur, that you think of leaving? Has your sovereign recalled you ?' I colored, naturally enough, for I was confused by the question; for the fact is, the king himself sent me here, and I have received no order to return." Mary frowned in deep thought, and said, "Do you remain, then ?" "I must, mademoiselle." "Do you ever receive any letters from her to whom you are so devoted ?" "Never." "Never, do you say? Does she not love you, then ?" "At least, she has not written to me since my departure, although she used occasionally to write to me before.
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