Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/28

32 heart and soul to my service, having been my father's coachman for many years before he had established himself at Amiens.

I conducted her there myself, despite the muttered objections of her old protector; while my friend Tiberge, who was completely mystified by this scene, followed me without uttering a word. He had not overheard our conversation, having occupied himself in pacing up and down the court-yard while I was wooing my fair one. Dreading his virtuous scruples, I rid myself of his presence by asking him to execute a small commission for me; and thus had the happiness, when we reached the inn, of having my heart's mistress entirely to myself.

I soon discovered that I was not the mere boy I had hitherto supposed myself to be. My heart expanded under the influence of a thousand sensations of pleasure of which I had never so much as dreamed. A delicious warmth suffused itself through all my veins, and I yielded up my whole being to an indescribable ecstasy which robbed me for some time of the free use of my voice, and found expression only in my eyes.

Mademoiselle Manon Lescaut—for such, she told me, was her name—seemed to be well pleased at the effect pro-