Dangerous Liaisons

30 October: Rosemonde writes to Tourvel. She praises Tourvel’s constancy, saying how it “was easier to bear than remorse for wrongdoing and self-contempt” (314). She is grateful that Valmont is returning to the fold, when he was accustomed to treating women on such a low level, taking pleasure in seducing them as much as ruining them.

31 October: Merteuil writes Valmont. She rebukes his claim that she will be his “reward.” She is not some common woman he can take as he has so many others. He thinks too highly of himself. Danceny is a better lover than he is.

01 November: Tourvel writes to Rosemonde. She only received her letter yesterday, which is good, otherwise it would have been her death. She has given in to Valmont and is neither happy about it nor ashamed. She lives for his happiness now.

03 November: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He does not understand where her bitterness and anger are coming from. If his language lacked subtlety, it was because he thought that, as long-time friends, they were past the need to use “insipid flattery which makes of love such a bland thing” (319). Also, the words he used referring to Tourvel and Cécile reflect the mood he was in and not his true feelings. He only went with Cécile because she (Merteuil) wanted him to.

04 November: Rosemonde writes to Tourvel. She is sad that Tourvel believes they can no longer be close friends. She was already aware that she (Tourvel) would most likely not be able to resist giving in to her feelings much longer. She tries to explain the nature of love between the two sexes: Men please as a means to an end, whereas to please is the end itself for women. 

06 November: Merteuil writes to Valmont. She is happier with his last letter. She discusses the differences between sexual desire and love. Sexual desire can never establish a lasting relationship. Hence, though she will keep her end of the bargain as soon as Valmont fulfills his by giving her a letter from Tourvel, the two of them can never be anything more than friends.

07 November: Tourvel writes to Rosemonde. She still feels very undeserving of Rosemonde’s friendship; however, she is very happy at the moment with Valmont. She idolizes him, claiming he is so much more than he seems on the outside—he is loving, caring, delicate.

08 November: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He views Tourvel as a very unique woman, one far different from others. She loves entirely and through and for her lover, which comes about from her natural shyness and virtuousness. Nevertheless, he does not love her. He still sees “the young Volanges girl” (329), whom he will return to Danceny as soon as she (Merteuil) sees fit. He feels that they (he and Merteuil) are still close; they made a mistake in parting but will find one another again, and that it will be better than anything they have experienced before.

11 November: Merteuil writes to Valmont. She says he is just like a child, getting excited about nothing. It is impossible for them to ever be together. He is most certainly in love with Tourvel. The demands she would make on him being her lover would be too great: He would have to completely give up Tourvel; he would have to continue with Cécile until she said stop. She is a little anxious about her ongoing lawsuit.

15 November: Tourvel writes to Rosemonde. Valmont no longer loves her, never loved her. She is so very miserable. She caught him at the opera with a known prostitute. She hopes not to burden Rosemonde with her friendship for much longer.

15 November: Tourvel writes to Valmont. She wants her letters back. He is not to see her again, though he would not want to anyhow. He has scandalized her and destroyed a love he would not understand.

15 November: Valmont writes to Tourvel. He feels horrible that she thinks the worst of him and explains that what she witnessed was a mere happenstance. He had to meet a friend at the opera, whom he could not find. An old acquaintance of his, Émilie, needed a ride, which he gave her. She laughed only at his embarrassment for having been seen by Tourvel with Émilie.

15 November: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He is not in love with Tourvel, and current events speak to that. He tells her what happened, that he went to spend the evening with Émilie and pointed Tourvel out to her, which made her laugh at “Lady Virtue” (339). He sent a letter explaining what happened to his advantage. She wrote back that she still did not want to see him, which meant that he must see her at once.

16 November: Tourvel writes to Rosemonde. All is forgiven and she is happy again: “Valmont is innocent” (341). She hopes Rosemonde can forgive her for her hastily-written letters.

21 November: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He is upset that she has not written back to him. Therefore, he will tell her nothing of his affairs, except those that concern Cécile. They were together one night when the door opened, but no one was there. In her fright, however, she fell and injured herself, resulting in a miscarriage. She had been unaware she was pregnant. He sent for a doctor whom he knew could keep a secret. He said Cécile should recuperate and that no one will have to know a thing.

24 November: Merteuil writes to Valmont. She provides him with an anecdote about a man she knows who was in a similar position in which he (Valmont) is in, and how he could break off an affair detrimental to his social standing. She ends the letter with thanks for telling her about Cécile and condolences for his lost offspring.

27 November: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He does not understand the tone of her last letter, but likes the anecdote, even if he did not understand it fully. He forwarded the anecdote to Tourvel and is awaiting her reply.

27 November: Tourvel writes to Rosemonde. She is again desperate. She has been betrayed. She has copied the letter she received proving this, and has sent it with this letter. She tells Rosemonde not to write back because she has sworn never to accept another letter ever again.

28 November: Valmont writes to Merteuil. He tells her about how Tourvel went to a convent but wonders if he can still bring about a reconciliation between himself and her, which he says would make for a nice experiment. Cécile is healing well and Danceny came to visit her. He promised him he would make it so he could see her personally, alone, soon. He still is hoping she (Merteuil) will come to him soon.

29 November: Merteuil writes to Valmont. She is very pleased that he broke up with Tourvel using her letter. She did not like how he made it seem that he placed her rival, Tourvel, above her. She says he can try for reconciliation but is sure it will not happen. She is on her way back to Paris and will see him soon.

29 November: Merteuil writes to Danceny. She tells him when she will be in Paris and will let him come see her, though it goes against her general rules. He is her sole confidante, which is hard to believe. She coyly chastises him for neglecting her since he has become closer again to Cécile.

29 November: Volanges writes to Rosemonde. Volanges is very concerned about Tourvel, who went to the convent where she grew up. Since she is married, she needed special permission to stay there, but she refused to leave. The nuns left her for the time being, but her mental state has begun to deteriorate.

01 December: Danceny writes to Merteuil. He assuages her concerns regarding him. He loves her and that is a good thing, that they both found love in one another. He will come see her, and he hopes she will be alone.

02 December: Madame de Volanges writes to Rosemonde. She tells her how she saw Tourvel, who at first had forgotten why she was in the convent. She soon remembered, however, and insisted that she (Volanges) tell her everything. A while later, a letter arrived from Valmont that sent Tourvel into delirium and convulsions.

03 December: Danceny writes to Merteuil. He will shortly see her but wants to write her a letter, even though she has said they should no longer write. He gives her his reasons for writing: “a letter is the portrait of the soul” (363). He loves her and cannot wait to see her.