The Princess of Montpensier Page #7

Beyond Chevreuse,

who will recognise me?

I will ride at my own pace...

My lord.

I want a letter... every week.

It will probably be the same one,

every week.

Sorry, sir. The house is full.

Don't you recognise me?

I stayed here

while serving Mr. De Cond.

Monsieur de Cond?

Could be,

but still, there's no room.

I don't need much.

I can pay, for a while.

In coin or in labour.

You say he's a scholar?

He's not disturbing anyone.

He spends all his time writing.

And he says he'll be off soon.

Princess,

dearest Marie,

child,

If I take

the liberty of writing today,

as I took the liberty of loving you,

it is because,

having decided to return to Maucombe

to bury myself in silence,

I feel the duty to serve you

one last time.

I fear for you, Madame.

Having had the joy to observe you

for so many hours,

who knows you better than I?

Who better than I knows

your harsh innocence?

Never given, always in secret,

waiting for others

to draw a cry from you

and furious at them if they do.

You pursue

the journey of life alone,

like a pilgrim in the shadows.

Don't follow the wrong star.

I know yours.

One hand above

the constellation Delphinus

which we studied together...

I gave it your name.

And I am certain it is indeed yours,

for I need only speak

of what breaks my heart,

and then it goes out.

If it so happens, as I fear, that...

Papist or Huguenot?

- Say the word.

- What word?

The word that tells us your camp.

Let me by!

I'm neither

with you nor against you!

Let him go.

Leave that woman alone!

Leave her alone!

Flee!

Your horse!

Royal business has kept me away.

The resumption of the war,

Anjou's departure

for the Polish throne.

Good day, Marie.

Good day, my lord.

I was a few leagues away and...

You were right.

Your horse seems exhausted.

As do you.

You're very pale.

I'm well.

Thinner.

I have a letter for you.

Monsieur de Chabannes wrote it.

- You opened it?

- Yes.

You read it?

Read, reread, memorised.

"Princess, dearest Marie, child,

"If I take the liberty

of writing today, as I took..."

You'll read it.

He's dead.

The Count of Chabannes.

He is?

I found it on his body.

During the heretic slaughter

in Paris.

You just read the part

about your star?

The wise Mr. De Chabannes

was prey to the same ill

you inflict on so many men.

Allow me to finish reading later.

Alone.

As you wish.

What follows is useful.

The Count speaks of me,

of you, of Guise.

That takes nerve.

I no longer fear The Scarred.

He's to wed Madame de Clves.

Didn't you know?

Very beautiful. And very rich.

They're at Blois for the contract.

I'll go tomorrow.

His mind is made up.

We'll see.

"If it so happens, as I fear,

"that you are again seized

by a passion for Mr. De Guise,

"bear in mind that nothing ensures

his passion will endure."

"People of his nature

have brilliance, charm, audacity.

"But neither depth nor constancy."

I could have destroyed that letter.

I wore out two horses in my haste

to deliver it.

What better proof of my loyalty?

My forgiveness?

I could have also concealed

Guise's treachery.

Madame...

understand that

if you offend me by going to Blois,

I won't retain you.

But all will be over between us.

Forever, Marie. No turning back.

Forever.

Fine, gentlemen.

Your husband said you were ill

and shut away.

He was apparently exaggerating.

Your long silence pained me.

I grant that your duties in society

excuse the lack of news.

Well?

What you wished so strongly,

I'm prepared to do.

I have decided to break

my marriage bond.

What fervour!

Don't you know time passes

and in passing abolishes...

It has abolished nothing in me.

I tried to obliterate you.

I thought I had.

Dear Marie, you know...

I know you never ceased to appear

before me.

In hopes of what? Why?

You were like a doe in our midst...

Our?

Yes, Montpensier, Anjou, me.

The rivalry drove me to seek...

What you obtained!

Did I not sacrifice

the King's sister?

Marguerite had agreed, it was done!

For love of you I said no.

Is that not a sacrifice?

Do you know what it meant for me?

My fortune.

I paid you with a night

I don't regret.

Do you think what I abandon now

has no price?

It's all settled, Mariette.

Nothing can be done. I'm committed.

This union saves me.

Or else Anjou...

Then all is said.

Don't lower yourself any more.

Mr. De Chabannes' prophecy was true.

- Chabannes?

- He wrote,

"Bear in mind that nothing ensures

his passion will endure.

"If a more favourable opportunity

should arise..."

- as appears to be the case -

"his head will turn elsewhere."

Farewell, cousin.

Don't keep her waiting.

You brought me

the wonderment of youth,

yours and my own,

which belatedly resurfaced.

Wherever I am,

you shall accompany me.

Farewell, Marie, dear child.

Happiness is an unlikely prospect

in the harsh adventure of life

for a soul as proud as yours.

Allow me to reappear now and then

in your memory

like an old song we never

truly erase from our mind.

Having lost your husband's esteem

and your lover's heart,

you will always have

the perfect friendship of Franois,

Count of Chabannes.

As Franois de Chabannes

withdrew from war,

I withdrew from love.

Life would be no more

than a succession of days.

I wished it to be brief,

for the secret follies of passion

had become alien to me.

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