Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/37

Rh at the very most, I expressed my surprise to her at this apparent augmentation of our wealth. She laughingly begged me to give myself no uneasiness on that score. "Did I not promise you," she said, "that I would find some resources?" I loved her too confidingly to be quick to take alarm.

One day, having occasion to go out during the afternoon, I told her before I went that I expected to be away longer than usual. On my return I was surprised to be kept waiting two or three minutes at the door. Our only servant was a young girl of nearly our own age. When she came to let me in, I asked her why she had delayed so long. She replied, with evident embarrassment, that she had not heard me knock.

"I knocked only once," I said to her, "so, if you did not hear me, what made you come to the door?"

This question so disconcerted her that, not having presence of mind enough to think of a plausible answer, she burst into tears, assuring me at the same time that it was not her fault, as her mistress had forbidden her to open the door until Monsieur de B had gone out by the back stairway which led from the dressing-room. I was so stunned by this intelligence that all my strength