But  no  one  save  this  cynic  doubted  the  reality  and  entire
sincerity  of  Madame  de  Sevignd's  grief.  We  know  from  her
letters  what  a  sensitive  and  impressionable  heart  and  mind  were
hers;  how  keenly  alive  to  pleasure,  how  readily  touched  by
sorrow ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  humiliations  her  husband  had
caused  her  to  suffer,  in  spite  even  of  the  crowning  outrage  of
the  manner  of  his  death,  she  was  overwhelmed  with  grief  at  her
loss.  Even  her  pride  was  dominated  by  love  and  yearning
sorrow.  Tallemant  tells  the  story,  that  the  Marquise,  who  had
neither  a  lock  of  hair  nor  a  portrait  of  her  husband,  putting
aside  all  wifely  anger  and  just  resentment,  went  to  Madame
de  Gondran,  who  at  once  gave  her  what  she  required;  while
Madame  de  Sevigne,  on  her  side,  returned  to  the  bourgeoise  all
the  shameful  letters  she  had  written  to  the  Marquis.  This

83


84      THE  QUEEN  OF  LETTER  WRITERS

may  or  may  not  have  been  true,  there  is  only  an  inveterate
gossip's  word  for  it,  but  it  is  quite  conceivable  that  in  the
abandonment  of  her  grief  the  young  widow  may  have  acted
in  a  manner  she  would  not  have  thought  permissible  in  calmer
hours.
