Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/150

154 terized all the remainder of an interview which had so long been the dearest wish of our hearts. My poor Manon gave me an account of all her adventures, and I related my own to her. We wept bitterly as we talked over her present situation and the one from which I had so recently escaped. M. de T consoled us by renewed promises that he would spare no endeavor to bring our troubles to an end. He advised us to make this first interview as short as possible, as he would then have less difficulty in procuring us others.

He found it no easy task to make us relish this advice. Manon, especially, could not make up her mind to let me go. Again and again I rose, and again and again did she force me back into my chair.

"Alas!" she cried, as she strove to retain me by clinging to my coat and to my hands, "are you, then, going to leave me in this vile place? Who can say whether I shall ever see you again?"

M. de T assured her that he would bring me frequently to see her.

"As for the place," he added, gallantly, "we must not think of it as the Hôpital but as Versailles, since it holds within its precincts one who might fitly reign over the hearts of all mankind."