Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/148

152 passed her time since she had been in this place. He told us that she was as gentle as an angel, and that he had never had a harsh word from her. She had wept incessantly, he said, for the first six weeks after her arrival; but for some time back she had seemed more patient under her misfortune, and occupied herself in sewing from morning till night, with the exception of a few hours which she devoted to reading. I inquired, further, whether she had been properly supplied with food. He assured me that the necessaries of life, at all events, had never been denied her.

As we approached her door, my heart began to throb violently; and I said to M. de T:

"Pray go in by yourself and prepare her for my coming, for I fear that to see me thus suddenly and unexpectedly would give her too violent a shock."

The door was opened for us. I remained outside in the corridor, near enough, however, to overhear every word that passed between them. M. de T told Manon that he had come in the hope of being able to offer her some consolation, as he was a friend of mine, and took a deep interest in our welfare. She inquired, with intense eagerness, whether he could tell her what had become of me.