he hid all his feelings from her and expressed only surprise at
the change in her attitude. He hoped that this change which
removed even the faintest hope from him would at the same time
change his feelings, but he found the Princess so charming, her
natural beauty having been enhanced by a certain grace which she
had acquired at Court that he felt that he loved her more than
ever. This remarkable devotion produced a remarkable effect. He
agreed to carry his rival's letters to his beloved.

The Princess was very despondent at the absence of the Duc de
Guise, and could hope for solace only from his letters. She
continually tormented the Comte de Chabannes to know if he had
received any and almost blamed him for not having delivered one
sooner. At last some arrived, brought by a gentleman in the Duc's
service, which he took to her immediately so as not to delay her
pleasure for a moment longer than necessary. The Princess was
delighted to have them and tortured the poor Comte by reading
them to him, as well as her tender and loving reply. He took this
reply to the waiting courier even more sadly than he had made the
delivery. He consoled himself a little by the reflection that the
Princess would realise what h was doing for her and would show
some recognition. Finding, however, that she daily treated him
with less consideration, owing to the anxieties which preoccupied
her, he took the liberty of begging her to think a little of the
suffering she was causing him. The Princess who had nothing in
her head but the Duc de Guise, was so irritated by this approach
that she treated the Comte much worse than she had done on the
first occasion when he had declared his love for her. Although
his devotion and patience had stood so many trials, this was too
much. He left the Princess and went to live with a friend who had