Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 73: Viscount de Valmont to Cecilia Volanges explained
Valmont writes to Cecilia, providing her with writing materials hidden in the antechamber and instructing her to maintain a distant demeanor in company to avoid suspicion.
What happens
Valmont writes to Cecilia, providing her with writing materials hidden in the antechamber and instructing her to maintain a distant demeanor in company to avoid suspicion. He promises to facilitate communication with Danceny and to help soften the persecution from her mother, urging her to trust him and to destroy letters after reading.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont manipulates Cecilia by offering assistance while advancing his own agenda, using secrecy and false friendship.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Valmont advises Cecilia to feign childish indifference in public to hide their covert correspondence, highlighting the gap between appearance and reality.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Writes to Cecilia, arranging secret correspondence and advising her on behavior to avoid detection.
- Cecilia Volanges
Recipient of Valmont's letter; instructed to hide writing materials and act indifferent in company.
- Chevalier Danceny
Referenced as Valmont's best friend whose happiness is to be advanced through the scheme.
- Madame de Volanges
Mentioned as the cruel mother whose persecution Valmont promises to soften.
Key passages
“The friend who takes upon him to assist you, knows that you have not materials to write with, therefore has provided them for you.”
Valmont has secretly supplied Cecilia with writing materials because he knows she lacks them.
Establishes the covert nature of their communication.
“He requests you will not be offended, if he seems to take little notice of you in company, and only to treat you as a child.”
Valmont asks Cecilia not to be upset if he ignores her in public and acts as if she is a child.
Illustrates the theme of hypocrisy and the need for deception.
“He finishes his letter by assuring you, if you confide in him, he will employ his utmost endeavours to soften the persecution that a cruel mother makes two persons undergo.”
Valmont promises to help ease the suffering caused by Cecilia's mother if Cecilia trusts him.
Highlights Valmont's manipulation and the theme of seduction.