Dangerous Liaisons, Letter 80 summary

What happens

1. Danceny tells Cécile that separation grows unbearable and complains that Valmont sends her letter without explaining how they can meet.
2. He describes days without happiness and says that imagining either her sorrow or her calm increases his suffering.
3. He recalls how the prospect of seeing Cécile once gives purpose to his duties, talents, and social pleasures.
4. He complains that only ten leagues separate them, yet neither Cécile nor Valmont answers his appeals for help.
5. He recalls Cécile’s former insistence on meeting, asks to renew their vows, and reasserts his belief in her lasting love.

In this letter

What to notice

The sentence states the letter’s central contrast: love remains strong, but separation turns its pleasure into suffering.

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