Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/169

Rh refused to go out and settle it at the point of the sword, and the other left him, swearing to shoot him down like a dog when they met again—a threat which he had carried out that very evening. M. de T had the courtesy to add that he had felt much uneasiness on our account, and that I must continue to count upon his serving me in any way that he could. I did not hesitate to inform him of our place of retreat. He begged that I would permit him to go and take supper with us.

As I had nothing further to attend to, beyond obtaining some dresses and linen for Manon, I told him that we might start at once, if he would have the goodness to stop with me for a few moments at one or two shops. I do not know whether he thought that I made this proposition with a view to exciting his generosity, or whether it was simply from the impulse of a noble heart; but, having consented to set out immediately, he took me to the shops at which his family dealt, and insisted on my selecting several much more costly stuffs than it had been my intention to buy; and when I was about to pay for them, he forbade the shop-keepers, in the most positive terms, to accept a penny from me.

This kindly act was performed with such good grace,