Dangerous Liaisons

11 September: Danceny writes to Cécile. He bemoans their situation but places great hope in Valmont’s help. He asks her to not judge Valmont according to her mother’s opinion of him. He is the best hope they have of being able to see one another.

14 September: Valmont writes to Cécile. The letter is included with the previous one. Valmont speaks to Cécile in the third person. He tells her he is there to help her and his friend, Danceny, overcome the injustice being done to them.

15 September: Merteuil writes to Valmont. She wonders why Valmont is so frightened by Prévan. The description he gave of him has served only to pique her interest in him. He is very attractive. She has not had any fun in weeks and feels she owes it to herself to have him. She wants to know more about Prévan’s “triple adventure,” which Valmont had mentioned earlier.

14 September: Cécile writes to Sophie. Most of the letter is just a reiteration of previous events from other letters, so the editor only includes the last section about Valmont. Cécile writes how wonderful he is, what a kind man he is, and how he is becoming a confidante.

17 September: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He wants to know if what she wrote to him concerning Prévan was supposed to be a joke. If it was a joke, he does not understand it, and if it was not a joke, she needs to take him seriously. He again warns her of his cunning and treachery. He then goes on to tell Merteuil about his arrival at his aunt’s chateau and how Tourvel responded. She was shocked to recognize his voice and did her best to keep away. Nevertheless, they made plenty of eye contact with one another.

15 September: Valmont writes to Tourvel. He chastises her for being so cruel by distancing herself from him. He has been doing his best to conform to her wishes. In fact, his refusal of her friendship is a sign of his goodness, because he did not use the situation to his advantage. He hopes she will finally show him some leniency.

16 September: Tourvel writes to Valmont. He continues to pursue her and speak of feelings she cannot abide. He showed up without any notice. Wherever she is, he is nearby. He is not as clever as he appears, and if she can understand his actions, then so can others. If he continues, she will be forced to leave.

18 September: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He recounts Prévan’s adventure from the previous letter. There was a group of three women who were very good friends. He became close with all three and was able to arrange matters so that he could sleep with each one at a different time on the same day. He told their lovers about what happened, but was so charming that he convinced the other men that the women were at fault. The lovers took revenge on the women by denouncing them publicly. One of the women went into a convent, and the other two lived in a type of social exile on their estates.

18 September. Danceny writes to Cécile. He feels desperate not being with her. He feels both Valmont and Merteuil have abandoned him. He is even beginning to suspect that her feelings for him are dwindling. He asks to see her soon.

20 September. Merteuil writes to Valmont. Merteuil chastises Valmont for supposing he could give her advice in the ways of love and also for taking so long with Tourvel, and with Danceny and Cécile. She outlines how she is superior to him. Women have it harder than men. A man can easily ruin a woman, and so the woman must constantly be on the defensive to make sure she can have her pleasure without being harmed. She is prudent. She tells him a bit of her history.

Her wedding night was neither sweet nor painful: It simply offered a chance for observation and learning. After her husband’s death, she learned much about human psychology and behavior from novels. She returned to society and learned to balance friendships between the prudish and non-prudish alike. She compares herself to the Biblical Delilah. She recalls her and Valmont’s first meeting together and reminds him of their mutual benefits for one another. Regarding Prévan, it is conquer or die. She wants him, will have him, and he will not be able to do anything to her or her reputation.

21 September: Cécile writes to Danceny. She wonders about his suffering, and especially his anger. She is not in better circumstances. It is not easy to write letters to him, nor to get them to Valmont.

21 September. Valmont writes to Tourvel. He asks her why she fears love so much. Love is something grand, nothing to be feared. How can she possibly fear meeting him when all he wants is to do her will? He is in more danger of a private conversation with her than she is, for it will only increase his suffering.

24 September: Valmont writes to Cécile. He tells her it is very difficult passing letters between the two of them, but he wishes to alleviate her and Danceny’s suffering. He has a plan to make it easier. They need to get the key to her bedroom door and switch it out with a similar-looking one.

25 September: Merteuil writes to Valmont. She recounts what happened between her and Prévan. They first exchanged subtle signs of interest through looks and sly comments. Then one day Prévan paid her a visit at her home. They talked of love. The two of them came up with a plan so that they might meet in her room during a dinner party. He would feign departure but would really sneak into her room and wait for her.

Everything went according to plan until she sprang her trap. Her valet caught Prévan as he was attempting to undress her, and she made it look as though he was unwelcome. There was an uproar among her servants: Prévan was forced to leave her house scandalized. The rumors of what happened made the rounds and he was disgraced. She was even visited by Prévan’s commanding officer, who told her Prévan was sent to prison.

25 September: The Maréchale de – writes to Merteuil. This letter is given to Valmont, along with Merteuil’s previous one. The Maréchale is appalled to hear what happened and feels guilty, since it was through her that Prévan and Merteuil met. Prévan will never be accepted by her again, and any other respectable person will also never receive his visits again.

26 September: Merteuil writes to Madame de Volanges. She retells the story of what happened between her and Prévan, leaving out all the details she told Valmont.