Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/291

Rh transcend anything I have ever experienced before or since.

Manon was observing me closely all the while, and read, in the troubled expression of my face, the full extent of our danger. More alarmed on my account than on her own, the affectionate girl did not even dare to give free expression to her fears.

After long and anxious reflection, I at last resolved to go to the Governor and make an effort to move him by appealing to his sense of honor, and to the remembrance of my unvarying respect for him and of the friendship he had hitherto professed for me.

Manon tried her best to dissuade me from my purpose.

"You are rushing to certain death," she said, with tears in her eyes; "they will murder you, and I shall never see you again. If you must die, I will die first!"

Only after much persuasion did I succeed in convincing her that it was absolutely necessary that I should go and that she should remain at home. I promised her that I would not be absent long. Little did we either of us dream that it was she herself who was to be the victim of the whole wrath of Heaven and the cruel rancor of our enemies.