midnight
He saw she was alone ; he saw her so inimitably beautiful , that he could scarce govern the transports which that sight gave him : the weather was hot , her head and neck were uncovered , and her hair hung carelessly about her . She lay on a couch with a table before her , on which were several baskets full of ribbons , out of which she chose some , and he observed she chose those colours which he wore at the tournament ; he saw her make them up into knots for an Indian cane , which had been his , and which he had given to his sister ; Madam de Cleves took it from her , without seeming to know it had belonged to the Duke . After she had finished her work with the sweetest grace imaginable , the sentiments of her heart showing themselves in her countenance , she took a wax candle and came to a great table over against the picture of the Siege of Mets , in which was the portrait of the Duke de Nemours ; she sat down and set herself to look upon that portrait , with an attention and thoughtfulness which love only can give . It is impossible to express what Monsieur de Nemours felt at this moment ; to see , at midnight , in the finest place in the world , a lady he adored , to see her without her knowing that he saw her , and to find her wholly taken up with things that related to him , and to the passion which she concealed from him ; this is what was never tasted nor imagined by any other lover . The Duke was so transported and beside himself , that he continued motionless , with his eyes fixed on Madam de Cleves , without thinking how precious his time was ; when he was a little recovered , he thought it best not to speak to her till she came into the garden , and he imagined he might do it there with more safety , because she would be at a greater distance from her women ; but finding she stayed in the bower , he resolved to go in : when he was upon the point of doing it , what was his confusion ; how fearful was he of displeasing her , and of changing that countenance , where so much sweetness dwelt , into looks of anger and resentment ! To come to see Madam de Cleves without being seen by her had no impudence in it , but to think of showing himself appeared very unwise ; a thousand things now came into his mind which he had not thought of before ; it carried in it somewhat extremely bold and extravagant , to surprise in the middle of the night a person to whom he had never yet spoke of his passion . He thought he had no reason to expect she would hear him , but that she would justly resent the danger to which he exposed her , by accidents which might rise from this attempt ; all his courage left him , and he was several times upon the point of resolving to go back again without showing himself ; yet urged by the desire of speaking to her , and heartened by the hopes which everything he had seen gave him , he advanced some steps , but in such disorder , that a scarf he had on entangled in the window , and made a noise .