Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/202

206 passion, since I was conscious of none of those violent emotions which had agitated me on previous occasions of this kind. Had I but realized it, alas! I was being hood-winked by Love as completely as I supposed myself to have been by G M and Manon.

Seeing that I was on the point of going downstairs, the girl who had brought me the letter asked me what I wished her to tell M. de G M and the lady who was with him. At this question I returned to the room, and, by a revulsion of feeling which would be thought incredible by any one who has never been the victim of violent passions, my delusive calmness suddenly deserted me and gave place to an uncontrollable outburst of rage.

"Go!" I cried, "go, and tell that traitor G M and his false-hearted mistress to what despair your accursed letter has driven me; but warn them that they shall not long make merry over it, for this hand of mine shall soon guide the dagger to both their hearts."

I threw myself into a chair, letting my hat fall from one hand and my cane from the other, while bitter tears began to stream from my eyes. The passionate indignation which had swept over me only a moment since now died away, and left behind it a melancholy so profound that I