Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/270

274 and I noticed that, yielding to her first impulse, she attempted to leap from the cart towards me, but, the chain dragging her back, she sank into her former attitude.

I begged the Archers, in the name of mercy, to stop for a moment; but only when I had appealed to their cupidity did they consent to do so. I dismounted from my horse and seated myself at Manon's side. She was so enfeebled and exhausted that for a long time she could not open her lips to speak to me, or even make a sign with her hands. Meanwhile I bathed those dear hands with my tears, unable, myself, to utter a single word; and thus we sat together, in as pitiable a condition as ever fell to the lot of two unhappy mortals. Nor were our words less sad when at last we regained the power of speech.

Manon said but little. Her misery and humiliation seemed to have wrought a change in the very organs of her voice, and its tone was tremulous and feeble as she expressed her gratitude to me for not having forgotten her, and for granting her, as she added with a sigh, the consolation of seeing me once again and bidding me a last farewell. But on my protesting to her that no power on earth could tear me from her side, and that I was resolved to