Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/294

298 "You are right," I responded; "nothing but death can end our differences."

We withdrew to a spot some hundred yards outside of the town, where we crossed our swords. I wounded him and disarmed him almost simultaneously. He was so enraged at his mishap that he refused either to beg me for his life, or to renounce his claims to Manon. Perhaps I had every right to deprive him of both at one thrust, but a generous blood never belies itself, and I threw him back his sword.

"Once more!" I said; "and remember that this time there is to be no quarter!"

He attacked me with indescribable fury. I was, it must be owned, by no means a skilful swordsman, three months' attendance at a school of fencing in Paris having taught me all I knew of the art. Love, however, guided my sword. Synnelet succeeded, indeed, in running me through the arm; but I seized the opportunity to deal him so vigorous a thrust that he fell motionless at my feet.

The joy which is the natural accompaniment of victory after a mortal combat was speedily clouded in my case by the thought of the inevitable consequences of this tragedy. I could hope for neither mercy nor respite in the punishment that was sure to follow. Knowing, as I did, the Governor's fondness for his nephew, I felt certain that when once his death was discovered, my own would not be delayed a single hour.

Pressing as I knew this fear to be, it was far from constituting the chief cause of my anxiety. Manon, concern for Manon's welfare, her imminent peril, and the prospect of being separated from her forever, agitated me so unspeakably that a film overspread my eyes and shut out all surrounding objects, until I scarcely knew where I