Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/233

Rh his questioner, therefore, that our project was to make a dupe of his son; and that Manon was to receive, or had already received from him, the sum of ten thousand francs, which the G M family and its heirs would never lay eyes on again, if we succeeded in carrying out our design.

Enraged at this discovery, the old man hurried upstairs and abruptly re-entered our room. Without a word, he passed through it to the dressing-room, where he had no difficulty in finding the money and jewels. Then, coming back to us, with his face positively purple with fury, he showed us what he was pleased to call our boot, and loaded us with insulting rebukes. Thrusting the pearl-necklace and bracelets under Manon's very eyes, he said to her with a sneer:

"Do you recognize them? This is not the first time that you have seen them! Yes, as I live, they are the same, the very same! 'Tis easy to see that they were vastly to your taste, my fair lady! Poor innocents!" continued he; "you are a charming pair, truly; but not as honest as you might be!"

My blood boiled within me at these offensive taunts. I would have given my right hand—aye, my very hopes of