The First Quarrel explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Sacrifice

  Louise de La Vallière sacrifices her own happiness and remains silent to protect the queen and Madame, enduring the king's accusations.

• Court Intrigue and Deception

  The king's jealousy is fueled by court secrets; Louise's silence is a form of deception to avoid implicating powerful princesses.

• Friendship and Betrayal

  Saint-Aignan's reluctance to defend La Vallière and his fear of the princesses' wrath highlight the fragile loyalties at court.

Characters to notice

• Louis XIV

  The king confronts La Vallière, growing increasingly jealous and angry over her silence, suspecting she still loves Raoul de Bragelonne.

• Louise de La Vallière

  Overwhelmed and silent, she cannot reveal the truth about the queen and Madame's involvement, leading to the king's accusations.

• Saint-Aignan

  Accompanies the king but is anxious about being seen, fearing the wrath of the princesses; he does little to defend La Vallière.

• Raoul de Bragelonne

  Mentioned as the object of the king's jealousy; the king believes La Vallière still loves him.

• Athos

  Mentioned as having solicited La Vallière's hand for Raoul; his portrait is in La Vallière's room, fueling the king's suspicion.

• Henrietta of England

  Observes the king leaving La Vallière's apartments and rushes to confront her.

Key passages

• “He therefore could not but suppose that on her return to Paris, La Vallière had found news from London awaiting her, and that this news had counterbalanced the influence he had been enabled to exert over her.”

  The king assumes that Louise received a letter from London that weakened his hold over her.

  Louis's jealousy leads him to believe Raoul has reasserted his claim through correspondence.

• “She thought within herself that as she made no attempt to conceal from the king what was passing in her own mind, the king ought to be able to read in her heart, in spite of her silence; and that, had he really loved her, he would have understood and guessed everything.”

  Louise believes that if the king truly loved her, he would understand her feelings without her having to speak.

  Louise's silent plea for empathy is misunderstood by the king, deepening the quarrel.

• “The unhappy Saint-Aignan, who had not displayed a very great amount of courage in taking La Vallière's part in the park of Fontainebleau, did not feel any braver in the broad daylight, and found a thousand defects in the poor girl which he was most eager to communicate to the king.”

  Saint-Aignan, already cowardly in defending Louise, now readily criticizes her to the king to protect himself.

  Saint-Aignan's self-preservation over loyalty exemplifies courtly betrayal.