Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Sequel to the Fortieth Letter explained
Valmont writes to Merteuil about his strategy with Madame de Tourvel, explaining how he plans to use her refusal to name his accusers as leverage for a regular correspondence.
What happens
Valmont writes to Merteuil about his strategy with Madame de Tourvel, explaining how he plans to use her refusal to name his accusers as leverage for a regular correspondence. He also describes his failed attempt to search her bureau for letters and his frustration at not being able to access her private papers.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont outlines his calculated strategy to manipulate Tourvel into a correspondence, using her refusal as a bargaining chip.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Valmont feigns a nosebleed to search Tourvel's bureau, and later pretends illness to elicit her sympathy, highlighting the gap between appearance and reality.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Valmont writes to Merteuil, detailing his manipulative plans and his failed attempt to search Tourvel's bureau for letters.
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Valmont addresses his letter to Merteuil, discussing his schemes and frustrations.
- Madame de Tourvel
Valmont describes Tourvel's refusal to name his accusers and her anxious concern for his feigned illness.
Key passages
“You readily conceive, that the virtuous, the scrupulous Madame de Tourvel, cannot grant the first of my requests—that of informing me who my accusers are, without a breach of friendship: thus, by promising everything on that condition, I am not at all committed; and you must be very sensible, that the negative she must give me, will give me a title to all my other objects; so that, by leaving this place, I shall obtain the advantage of a regular correspondence, with her own consent;”
Valmont explains that Tourvel cannot name his accusers without betraying a friend, so by offering to leave in exchange for that information, he secures her agreement to correspond with him when she refuses.
Valmont reveals his manipulative logic to Merteuil.
“I returned to dinner very dissatisfied: my fair one however brought me into good humour, by her anxious enquiries on my feigned indisposition: I did not fail to assure her that I had for some short time, violent agitations, which impaired my health.”
Valmont returns to dinner annoyed, but Tourvel's worried questions about his fake illness cheer him up, and he tells her his health suffers from agitation.
Valmont uses feigned illness to manipulate Tourvel's emotions.