Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) Part 3, Letters 106-110 Summary

Letter 106: The Marquise de Merteuil to the Vicomte de Valmont

  • The Marquise is obviously pleased with the Vicomte's seduction of Cécile.
  • Having instructed the girl to give herself more to Valmont, she encourages Valmont to keep at it and push the sexual boundaries even more.
  • The Marquise ridicules Valmont for not having forced himself on Tourvel when she obviously was ready for it.
  • She thinks that between the two of them, they can make Cécile the shame of her mother and Gercourt.
  • Note that Merteuil has taken a risk with her letter to Cécile—it incriminates her.
  • She therefore asks Valmont to make sure Cécile reads it but doesn't keep it.
  • She tells Valmont about the letter she wrote to Madame de Volanges discouraging her from allowing Cécile and Danceny to marry.
  • She's proud of how virtuous she came across in the letter, how she said she hates loose women.
  • She comments how easy it is to present yourself any way you want in letters.

Letter 107: Aȥolan to the Vicomte de Valmont

  • Valmont's valet (nice alliteration) reports on his progress.
  • He's met with Julia, and she has a little information that's new to them.
  • Madame de Tourvel has been seen crying and walking with her head covered.
  • She's not been eating well and wished to see her confessor.
  • She looks sad and distracted.
  • As requested, Aȥolan obtained Tourvel's letters and will be sending the interesting ones to Valmont.

Letter 108: The Présidente de Tourvel to Madame de Rosemonde

  • Madame de Tourvel is very thankful for Rosemonde's letter.
  • She's also received one from "him," Valmont.
  • It fills her with emotion and she asks Madame de Rosemonde about his current mood and response to her leaving so suddenly.

Letter 109: Cécile de Volanges to the Marquise de Merteuil

  • Cécile tells the Marquise that she returned her letter via Valmont, as she requested.
  • Cécile feels a little better about the affair with Valmont after the Marquise's letter.
  • She still feels tormented about Danceny, but has to admit that Valmont is pleasant and sometimes makes her forget about Danceny.
  • She'll be going to his room from now on.
  • A little confused, Cécile asks if she misunderstood the Marquise earlier when, at the opera, she told her that once married she could love no one other. Now, it seems that she's telling her she can have both a husband and a lover.
  • Valmont has been telling her bad things about her mother.
  • She'll lie to her mother if she has to.

Letter 110: The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil

  • Valmont's letters have been refused and Tourvel has changed her confidant from Volanges to Rosemonde.
  • He's thought about just "taking" Tourvel, but he's much prefer that she give herself to him willingly.
  • He's had more success with Cécile, lying to her about her mother and convincing her that her noisiness when they're together requires that they meet in his room instead.
  • Turning her against her mother seemed to make her even more eager for his sexual advances.
  • He's convinced that if a girl respects her mother, then she'll respect herself.
  • And he can't have that.
  • He's teaching the girl sexual jargon and technicalities that will, they assume, scandalize Gercourt after the two are wed.
  • She knows almost everything that Valmont knows.