Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/187

Rh After exchanging salutations, we sat down. He was eloquent in his admiration of Manon, of myself, and of everything belonging to us; and he ate with an appetite that did honor to our supper. As soon as the table was cleared, the converaation took a more serious turn. With downcast eyes, he spoke of his father's cruel behavior towards us, and expressed the deepest regret for all that we had suffered at his hands.

"If I do not prolong my apologies," said he, "I beg you to believe that it is only because I am loath to revive a recollection which is fraught with so much humiliation for myself."

However sincere his contrition may have been at first, it became much more so as the evening wore on; for he had not been with us half an hour before I began to perceive the impression which Manon's charms were making upon him. His glances and his manner towards her gradually grew more and more tender; although, during the whole conversation, he did not betray his sentiments by a word. But, even without any aid from jealousy, I was too well versed in the ways of love to be blind to the most trivial indications arising from that source.

Young G M remained in our company until late in the evening, and before taking his leave, he told us that he congratulated himself upon his good fortune in making our acquaintance, and hoped that we would permit him to come and see us occasionally, so that he might have more than one opportunity of assuring us of his desire to serve us in any way in his power. He left in the morning, taking M. de T in his coach with him.

As I have already remarked, I felt no inclination to be jealous. I trusted to Manon's vows with more credulity than ever. Such absolute dominion did that lovely being hold over my heart that I had not a trace of any other