Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/306

308 leave France regularly once a year for that part of America.

I had resolved to return to my native land, there to atone, by a life of virtue and integrity, for the scandals of my past conduct.

Synnelet had made it his care to have the body of my dear mistress removed to an honorable place of burial.

Some six weeks after my restoration to health, as I chanced one day to be taking a solitary walk along the bank of the river, I witnessed the arrival of a vessel, which some commercial enterprise had brought to New Orleans. I stood for some time watching her people land. What was my intense surprise when, among the newcomers who were making their way towards the town, I recognized—Tiberge!

He knew me again, faithful friend that he was, while as yet some distance from me, in spite of the change which grief had wrought in my face. He told me that his sole motive in making the voyage had been his desire to see me once more and to prevail upon me to return to France. Upon receipt of the letter which I had written to him from Havre, he had started for that town at once, to bring me himself the assistance for which I had asked him. He had