# Letter 47: The Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil explained — Dangerous Liaisons

> Chapter companion for Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

## What happens

Valmont writes to Merteuil explaining his delay in returning to Paris. He recounts a night of debauchery at the Countess de B⸺'s country seat, where he joined a supper party hosted by a Dutch burgomaster. Valmont and the courtesan Emily conspire to get the Dutchman drunk, then Valmont sends him away in his own carriage and stays the night with Emily. He uses Emily as a desk to write a letter to Madame de Tourvel, describing his infidelity. Valmont encloses the letter for Merteuil to post and arranges to meet her later.

## Themes in this chapter

### Seduction and Manipulation

Valmont manipulates Emily and the Dutchman for his own amusement, and uses the situation to write a provocative letter to Tourvel.

### Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality

Valmont presents himself as a devoted suitor to Tourvel while engaging in debauchery, highlighting the gap between his public persona and private actions.

## Character check-ins

### Viscount de Valmont

Narrates his debauchery with Emily and the Dutchman, and his plan to visit Merteuil.

### Marchioness de Merteuil

Recipient of the letter; Valmont asks her to post his letter to Tourvel and arranges a meeting.

### Emily

Courtesan who serves as Valmont's desk for writing to Tourvel; she participates in the drunken scheme.

### Madame de Tourvel

Valmont writes to her while in bed with Emily, describing his infidelity.

### Cecilia Volanges

Valmont mentions he will see her at Madame de Volanges' house.

## Key lines

> I shall not see you today, my charming friend; and I will give you my reasons, which I hope you will accept with your usual good nature.

Valmont explains to Merteuil why he cannot visit her today, expecting her to understand.

_Opens the letter with a playful excuse for his absence._

> The only difficulty was to bring Emily to consent, in whom the burgomaster’s riches had raised some scruples: however, after some solicitation, I brought her at length to consent to my scheme, which was, to fill this little beer hogshead with wine, and thus get rid of him.

Valmont convinces Emily to help him get the Dutchman drunk so he can take his place.

_Describes the manipulation of both Emily and the Dutchman for Valmont's pleasure._

> This condescension is a return for that she has just had for me, in submitting to serve me as a desk to write to my lovely devotee, to whom it struck me as a pleasant thought, to write in bed with, and almost in the arms of, a girl, where I was interrupted by a complete infidelity.

Valmont uses Emily as a writing surface to compose a letter to Tourvel while in bed with her, finding amusement in the irony.

_Highlights Valmont's cruel humor and the duality of his relationships._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-47-the-viscount-de-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters