Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) Part 4, Letters 151-155 Summary

Letter 151: The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil

Valmont can't believe the Marquise could think she could keep from him the fact that she has been seeing Danceny.
Is he to be treated like a naïve schoolboy who can't figure things out?
She's been in Paris for four days and has seen Danceny each day. She has not seen Valmont.
Valmont is not pleased. Nope. Nope. Nope.
He insists she give up seeing the boy, just as he gave up Madame de Tourvel, who even at that minute is probably dying of grief.
He insists on seeing her tomorrow evening to get his reward.
He warns her that things will go very badly for her if she refuses.
This is starting to get ugly.

The Marquise explains that she never married again because she didn't want the annoyance of someone complaining to her when she refused to sleep with him.
She's annoyed with Valmont. She doesn't owe him a thing.
She knows he doesn't want her love; he just wants to show he has power over her.
Not a chance.
He's not the man he used to be, she says, and so her promise before doesn't hold. It would be infidelity to keep it.
Seriously, he was willing to sacrifice a woman he really cared about in two seconds just to avoid being ridiculed.
Should she even consider going out of her way for a man like that?
Fuhgeddaboutit

Valmont reminds the Marquise that they each possess all that is needed to ruin the other.
He will be her lover or her enemy, nothing else.
Any obstacle will be, to him, a declaration of war.
He asks for a word in response.
She gives one: war!

Valmont has sent a letter to Madame de Volanges pertaining to Madame de Tourvel.
He's expressing despair but she doesn't know if he's sincere.
Regardless, Madame de Tourvel is too delirious to be told anything about it. She's still very, very ill.
Madame de Volanges doesn't think Valmont should be encouraged or answered.

Valmont has visited Cécile and has a letter from her for Danceny.
He knows Danceny has a rendezvous with Madame de Merteuil this evening. He's turning into a regular Don Juan.
But guess what? Cécile also wants to see him this evening. All the obstacles to this relationship have been removed.
It's all up to him what happens next.
Valmont tells Danceny that he must choose between an innocent and timid girl (yeah, right) and a woman who is experienced (italics Valmont's).
If Valmont were in his shoes, he'd go for the young one, because he might change her mind at any time.
Plus, it would be another notch in his belt. The Marquise has already given in.
He recommends that he stand up the Marquise, but not to give her advance notice. Just don't show up and he'll have tie to think of excuses the next day.
He must add that he misses Madame de Tourvel very much and tells Danceny that only love can make a person happy.