Letters of Two Brides · Chapter
XXXIX: The Baronne de Macumer to the Vicomtesse de l’Estorade explained
Louise responds indignantly to Renée's critical letter about her marriage, describing a romantic evening with Felipe in Rome where he passionately defends their love against Renée's predictions.
What happens
Louise responds indignantly to Renée's critical letter about her marriage, describing a romantic evening with Felipe in Rome where he passionately defends their love against Renée's predictions. She recounts a moment of fear from a bat's cry but reassures Renée of her devotion, acknowledging her friend's concern while asserting the unique depth of their passion.
Themes in this chapter
Passion and Self-Restraint
Louise and Felipe embrace passionate love without restraint, rejecting Renée's practical warnings.
Friendship and Correspondence
The letter exchange reveals the deep but contentious friendship between Louise and Renée.
Illusion vs. Reality
Louise questions whether her love is real or an illusion, prompted by Renée's critique.
Characters to notice
- Louise de Chaulieu
Writes to Renée from Rome, defending her marriage and describing her intense love for Felipe.
- Renée de Maucombe
Recipient of the letter; her critical advice has provoked Louise's emotional response.
- Felipe Hénarez
Louise's husband, who passionately defends their love and comforts her after a frightening omen.
- Duc de Soria
Mentioned as being in Venice, where Louise and Felipe plan to visit.
- Duchesse de Soria
Mentioned as being in Venice with the Duc de Soria.
Key passages
“My dear Arab fell at my feet, declaring that you raved. Then he carried me off to the balcony of the palace where we are staying, from which we have a view over part of the city; there he spoke to me words worthy of the magnificent moonlight scene which lay stretched before us.”
Felipe knelt before me, calling your letter madness, then swept me to the palace balcony overlooking the moonlit city and spoke with poetic passion.
Louise describes Felipe's romantic defense of their love against Renée's criticism.
“He swore that, even were you right in your predictions, he would not exchange for a lifetime a single one of our blessed nights or charming mornings.”
He vowed that even if your prophecies came true, he would not trade a single one of our joyful nights or mornings for a lifetime.
Felipe's unconditional commitment to their present happiness.
“While he was whispering this in his ear, his arm round me, my head resting on his shoulder, the cries of a bat, surprised by an owl, disturbed us. This death-cry struck me with such terror that Felipe carried me half-fainting to my bed.”
As he whispered to me, a bat's death cry from an owl attack startled us, frightening me so much that Felipe carried me, nearly fainting, to bed.
An ominous omen interrupts their romantic moment, foreshadowing potential tragedy.