Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/211

Rh to her caresses, repulsed her with scorn, and drew back some paces from her. This proceeding on my part naturally disconcerted her. She remained standing in the same position, and gazed at me, while her cheeks flushed and then grew pale.

In my secret soul I was so overjoyed at seeing her once more, that, despite all my just reasons for indignation, I could scarcely summon up resolution to open my lips and upbraid her. Yet my heart was bleeding from the cruel wrong she had done me. I recalled it vividly to mind, that it might kindle my resentment, and I strove to make my eyes flash with another fire than that of love.

As I remained silent for some moments, and she gradually became aware of the excitement under which I was laboring, I noticed that she began to tremble, apparently from fear. This sight was more than I could bear.

"Ah, Manon!" I said to her tenderly, "false and inconstant Manon! Where shall my reproaches begin? I see you pale and trembling before me, and I am still so readily moved by the slightest pain you suffer, that I dread to distress you too deeply by my rebukes. But, Manon, believe me, my heart is pierced with anguish at your disloyalty. Such blows as this can be dealt a lover with only one object—and that, his death! This is the third time, Manon; too well have I counted them for it to be possible that I should forget! Now the hour has come for you to consider, once and for all, what your choice is to be; for my unhappy heart is no longer proof against treatment so cruel as this. I feel that it is even now succumbing, and almost breakhig with grief. I can bear no more," I added, sinking into a chair; "I have scarcely strength enough left to speak or to stand!"

She made me no reply, but, as soon as I was seated, she knelt down and, resting her head upon my knees, hid