Dangerous Liaisons

25 August: Tourvel to Valmont. She asks him to leave the chateau. He has socially compromised her, and she fears rumors will circulate. She tells him to keep his promise from Letter 35. If he does not leave, then she will.

26 August: Valmont responds to Tourvel’s letter. He says he will leave, as she requests, but asks for something in return. He wants to know who has been telling her such bad things about him, and he wants a final conversation with her, so he can justify his feelings for her. He will then leave, but of course, since he has promised his aunt he would stay there, he will have to fake a letter of business that requires his departure.

Valmont lays out his plan to Merteuil. He has promised nothing, since he knows that Tourvel will not fulfill his requests. The conversation he requested is only to serve to get her to make further, future promises. He desperately wants to know who has been speaking ill of him. He cannot find Tourvel’s letters. She must be hiding them in a non-typical place.