Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/274

278 tates of love, moreover, forbade my husbanding my money. From morning till night I was at Manon's side, oblivious of everything else, and my time was no longer measured by the hour, but by whole days.

When, at last, my purse was quite empty, I found myself exposed to all the whims and brutality of these six ruffians, who treated me with insufferable insolence, such as you yourself witnessed at Passy. My meeting with you was a happy respite that Fortune granted me for a short time. Your compassion at the sight of my sufferings was the only claim that I had upon your generous heart. The assistance which you so liberally extended me enabled me to reach Havre, and the Archers kept their promise with better faith than I had expected of them.

On our arrival at Havre, I went at once to the Post-office. There had not as yet been time for Tiberge to answer my letter. I made careful inquiries as to how soon I might expect his reply, and found that it could not possibly arrive for another two days. By one of those strange fatalities which my luckless destiny ever had in store for me, it happened that our vessel was to sail on the morning of the very day when the post that I was so anxiously awaiting would come in. Words fail to describe my despair at this intelligence.

"Must it ever be thus?" I cried; "must I be always singled out for extremes, even in my misfortunes?"

"Alas!" was Manon's response, "such unhappy lives as ours are surely not worth the pains we take to preserve them! Let us die here, at Havre, dear Chevalier! Let us end our miseries at once and forever in the grave! Why carry the heavy burden of our woes to an unknown land, where the most horrible sufferings doubtless await us, since it has been chosen as a place of punishment for me. Yes, let us die!" she again besought me; "or do you,