The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
What Was Caught After the Butterflies explained
King Louis XIV and Madame Henrietta discuss a plan to conceal their growing affection by using Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente as a decoy, but ultimately decide on Louise de La Vallière as the target of a feigned courtship.
What happens
King Louis XIV and Madame Henrietta discuss a plan to conceal their growing affection by using Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente as a decoy, but ultimately decide on Louise de La Vallière as the target of a feigned courtship. They agree to a gradual campaign of visible affection to mislead the jealous court.
Themes in this chapter
Court Intrigue and Deception
The king and Madame Henrietta plot a false courtship to conceal their true feelings from the jealous Monsieur.
Love and Sacrifice
Henrietta contemplates leaving France to avoid conflict, while Louis vows to hide his love to protect their bond.
Friendship and Betrayal
The plan to use La Vallière as a decoy involves potential betrayal of her trust for the sake of the king's romance.
Characters to notice
- Louis XIV
The king conspires with Madame Henrietta to feign affection for La Vallière as a cover for their true feelings.
- Henrietta of England
Madame Henrietta advises the king on dissimulation and suggests La Vallière as the decoy.
- Louise de La Vallière
Identified by Madame as the suitable decoy; the king comments on her thinness and melancholy.
- Athenaïs
Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente is initially considered as a cloak for the king's affection but deemed too beautiful.
- Philippe d'Orléans
Monsieur's jealousy is the driving force behind the need for dissimulation.
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Mentioned in passing regarding the lamps at the evening festivities.
Key passages
“you think of Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, Henrietta?" inquired the king. "I think she has rather too much flax-yellow and lily-whiteness in her complexion," replied Madame, fixing in a moment upon the only fault it was possible to find in the almost perfect beauty of the future Madame de Montespan.”
The king asks Madame Henrietta her opinion of Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente; she criticizes her as too fair-skinned and flaxen-haired.
Madame dismisses Tonnay-Charente as too beautiful to serve as a decoy.
“Do you yourself choose for me the one who is to cure our jealous friend. To her, then, all my devotion, all my attention, all the time that I can spare from my occupations, shall be devoted.”
The king asks Madame to select a woman to whom he will pretend devotion in order to deceive the jealous Monsieur.
Louis delegates the choice of decoy to Henrietta.
“See yonder, sire, upon the declivity of that little hill, near that group of Guelder roses, that beautiful girl walking alone, her head down, her arms hanging by her side, with her eyes fixed upon the flowers, which she crushes beneath her feet, like one who is lost in thought." "Mademoiselle de Vallière, do you mean?" remarked the king.”
Madame points out Louise de La Vallière walking alone on a hill, and the king identifies her.
La Vallière is chosen as the decoy for the king's feigned affection.
“I shall begin to recall the compliments I paid you just now. You prudent! you wise! did I say? Why, you begin by the most reckless inconsistencies! Can a passion be kindled in this manner, like a torch, in a moment?”
Madame chides the king for wanting to declare his passion too suddenly, advising gradual courtship.
Henrietta counsels Louis to proceed with caution and subtlety.
