Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/36

40 I resolved, if possible, to effect a reconciliation with my father. My mistress was so lovable that I had no doubt of her being able to win his favor, if I could but find a way of making her modesty and her many other merits known to him. In a word, I was sanguine enough to believe that I could obtain his consent to my marrying her, having by this time been disabused of any hopes I had once entertained of doing so without his approval.

I communicated this project to Manon, and impressed upon her that not only did considerations of duty and affection dictate my taking this step, but that it was almost a matter of necessity for us, as our funds were seriously diminished, and I was beginning to realize that they were far from being as inexhaustible as I had supposed. Manon received the proposition coldly. However, as she based her objections to it only upon the ground of her love for me, and her fear of my being lost to her should my father disapprove of our plans after he had learnt our place of retreat, I was left without the faintest suspicion of the cruel blow that was about to be inflicted upon me. To the plea of necessity she replied that we still had enough to support us for a few weeks longer, and that after that she would have recourse to the kindness of some relations in the country, to whom she would write. She softened her refusal by caresses so tender and so impassioned, that I, whose life was wrapped up in her and who had not the slightest misgivings as to her loyalty, applauded alike her arguments and her intentions.

I had left in her hands the disposal of our money and the care of defraying our ordinary expenses. I soon began to observe that our daily fare was becoming more luxurious, and that she had indulged herself in some costly adornments of dress. As I was well aware that we could not have more than twelve or fifteen pistoles remaining,