“La Confidente will tell you that I was more than satisfied yesterday, though I had no other delight than pressing your hand. Our restraint has its charms, for though the last few days I have seen you only in places where even the language of the eyes is scarcely possible, I have had many happy moments. What a delight _ma petite_, for us to be able to communicate with impunity in the presence of thousands of people! What a delight! Speak to me a little more in the same way, but only when there is no risk, for I should be sore distressed to cause you more trouble than I do already.... Keep in the same mind as you were yesterday, and though the whole world conspire against us, never mind so long as we love one another. They will soon tire of preaching at you, and then we shall enjoy perfect peace. I have not yet seen Aurora, but I shall know all from her. I have had a long conversation with the Duchess of Celle. I believe her to be the most deceitful of women. She says the prettiest things to me, yet all the time she is doing her best to ruin me with you. I hope to Heaven she will not succeed! Do not believe all these women may tell you, for they will make every effort to set you against me. But I should be wrong to doubt you _after the proposition you made to me—that you are willing to leave all this pomp and splendour and retire with me to some corner of the world_. After that I have nothing to fear. I accept your offer with joy. You have only to say the word and I am ready. If the result of your parents’ persecution be to force you to take such a step, I hope they will persecute you a hundred times more, so that you may act promptly. Why should we not fly to-night? “Surely, Madame, my manner towards the Duchess of Saxe-Eisenach[93] must have shown you that my heart is all yours, and no other beauty can find place there, not even that princess. I hope you have no cause to complain of my behaviour to the other ladies here. It is true I flattered His Highness’s mistress,[94] in the hope she would tell me what she was about, and she would not say anything. I stand well with Monseigneur,[95] and he shows me more courtesy than usual.” ----- Footnote 93: “The Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Eisenach are come hither.”—Colt’s _Despatch_, Celle, March 4, 1692. Footnote 94: Countess Platen. Footnote 95: Duke of Celle. ----- The Princess, during the next few days at Celle, seems to have behaved with more circumspection. In this she was only obeying the dictates of common prudence. Nevertheless her precautions called forth the following remonstrances:—