Dangerous Liaisons, Letter 144 summary
Letter 144 of 177 · 4 min to read the letter
In Letter 144, Valmont tells Merteuil that Mme de Tourvel enters a convent, a withdrawal that flatters his vanity but threatens his control over her. He proposes reviving her hope of reconciliation, asks Merteuil to return and reward him, and describes Cécile’s recovery and Danceny’s renewed access to her.
What happens
- Valmont fails to see Mme de Tourvel and learns through his groom that she enters a convent without plans to return.
- He boasts that her withdrawal proves his lasting influence, but resents the possibility that she might no longer desire him.
- He proposes encouraging hopes of reconciliation as a shared experiment with Merteuil, then asks for her return and his reward.
- At Mme de Volanges’s home, he finds Cécile recovering and Danceny permitted to visit again.
- Valmont promises Danceny closer access to Cécile and presents deceiving a first lover as a greater achievement than deceiving a husband.
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In this letter
What to notice
Valmont presents deception as an achievement. The line explains his interest in arranging Cécile’s relationship with Danceny rather than simply ending his own involvement.
Quick check
What does Valmont’s groom discover about Mme de Tourvel?
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