Letter 11: Madame de Tourvel to Madame de Volanges
- Tourvel isn't concerned about Valmont and tries to calm her friend's fears.
- He's being all gentlemanly and not at all flirty. Deceptively, of course, but Tourvel doesn't know that.
- She's so assured of his virtue that she would be OK with having him as a brother.
- To her, Valmont shows all the signs of being on a path to redemption and reform.
- We get a very clear picture of how good Valmont is at creating this persona for himself.
- If you're like us, you're screaming, "Wake up, girlfriend!" right about now.
Letter 12: Cécile de Volanges to the Marquise de Merteuil
- Cécile sends regrets that she can't attend the opera as her momma is under the weather.
- She's more sorry to miss Merteuil's company than she is the opera.
- She asks Merteuil to tell Danceny that she doesn't have the songbook he mentioned to her.
Letter 13: The Marquise de Merteuil to Cécile de Volanges
- Merteuil offers to come over to keep Cécile's mother company.
- She suggests they listen to her and Danceny sing duets.
- Remember, everything's a plot with Merteuil. And with Valmont.
Letter 14: Cécile de Volanges to Sophie Carney
- Cécile tells Sophie that she cried her eyes out because she couldn't be with Danceny and Merteuil.
- The effects of Merteuil's plotting are becoming apparent.
- Cécile's affections for Danceny are growing and she's excited that he finds her prettier than Merteuil—at least according to Merteuil, who wants to get her excited about Danceny.
- Cécile finds that she's more concerned with her appearance lately. Wonder why.
- A good rule of thumb: don't assume that the information these characters provide is accurate. There's a lot of deception going on. Unreliable narrators abound.
Letter 15: The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil
- Valmont and Merteuil aren't just playing treacherous games with others; they're playing each other as well.
- Determined not to be impressed by Merteuil's plot against her lover, Valmont tells Merteuil that she's under her lover's power and not the other way around.
- He's shocked that any other man could challenge the power he has over Merteuil.
- Meanwhile, Valmont's valet has, under orders, made love to a chambermaid in Valmont's aunt's place in an effort to get info about the household.
- He's discovered that Madame de Tourvel has been asking about Valmont's activities and told a servant of hers to follow and spy on him.
- Seems everyone's getting in on the intrigue.