Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/280

284 who had joined our own. After a long inspection of them, the Governor sent for a number of the young men of the town who were anxious to have wives, and assigned the comeliest girls to the leading ones among them, while lots were cast for the rest. He had not, as yet, spoken to Manon, but when he ordered the others to withdraw, he told us both to remain.

"The Captain informs me," he then said, "that you are married, and that he became convinced during the voyage that you are both persons of superior intelligence and worth. I will not enter now into the question of what has brought you to your present pass; but if you are, in truth, as well-bred as your appearance would indicate, I shall spare no pains to mitigate the hardships of your lot; while you, for your part, can do much towards rendering my life in this wild and desolate spot less disagreeable than it has hitherto been."

I replied in such terms as I thought best calculated to confirm the impression which he had formed of us. He gave directions that a lodging should be prepared for us in the town, and then invited us to remain and take supper with him.

His manners, I thought, were remarkably courteous