# Mademoiselle de La Vallière’s Pocket-Handkerchief explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

> Chapter companion for The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

Madame and the king engage in a contest of wits over access to La Vallière. The king attempts to pass a love note to La Vallière by swapping handkerchiefs, but Madame intercepts the scheme. Later, Malicorne cleverly steals the handkerchief from the king's pocket and returns it to La Vallière, claiming he found it on the ground. The king is amused and impressed by Malicorne's cunning.

## Themes in this chapter

### Court Intrigue and Deception

The chapter revolves around a complex scheme involving handkerchiefs and notes, with Madame, the king, and Malicorne all engaging in deception to achieve their goals.

### Love and Sacrifice

The king's love for La Vallière drives him to risk exposure and humiliation, while La Vallière's despair at losing the verses shows her emotional investment.

## Character check-ins

### Louis XIV

The king is in love with La Vallière and devises a handkerchief trick to pass her a note, but is thwarted by Madame. He later discovers Malicorne's theft and is amused.

### Louise de La Vallière

La Vallière is the object of the king's affections. She loses the king's verses when the handkerchief trick fails, but later receives the handkerchief back from Malicorne.

### Henrietta of England

Madame is determined to prevent the king from meeting La Vallière. She orchestrates the interception of the handkerchief and keeps the king under surveillance.

### Mademoiselle de Montalais

Montalais assists Madame in her schemes and later, through Malicorne, helps La Vallière recover the handkerchief.

### Malicorne

Malicorne cleverly steals the king's handkerchief containing the note and returns it to La Vallière, earning the king's favor and being called a 'first rate politician'.

## Key lines

> Madame was not bad-hearted—she was only hasty and impetuous. The king was not imprudent—he was simply in love.

Madame acted out of impulsiveness rather than malice, while the king's actions were driven by love rather than recklessness.

_Sets the tone for the chapter's conflict between Madame's scheming and the king's romantic pursuit._

> The king showed the corner of his letter to La Vallière, and the latter held out her handkerchief with a look that signified, 'Put the letter inside.'

The king revealed the edge of his note to La Vallière, who silently offered her handkerchief as a hiding place.

_Describes the secret communication between the king and La Vallière._

> Malicorne had picked the king's pocket of the handkerchief as dexterously as any of the pickpockets of the good city of Paris could have done.

Malicorne stole the handkerchief from the king's pocket with the skill of a professional thief.

_Reveals Malicorne's cunning and the true nature of his 'accidental' stumble._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/171-mademoiselle-de-la-valli-re-s-pocket-handkerchief
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters