Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/40

44 that sweet privilege would have been torture to us. I could thus conceive of scarcely a moment during which any one but myself could have been in Manon's thoughts.

At last I flattered myself that I had found the solution of the mystery. "Monsieur de B," I said to myself, "is a man who does an extensive business and has widespread connections. Manon's relations have doubtless remitted some money to her through him. She has probably already received some from him, and he came to-day to bring her more. No doubt she has taken innocent amusement in concealing it from me in order to give me a pleasant surprise. Perhaps she would have told me all about it had I gone in as usual instead of coming here to torture myself; at all events, she will not keep me in the dark any longer when I mention the matter to her."

I fortified myself so resolutely with this view of the affair that it served sensibly to diminish my distress. Returning home at once, I embraced Manon with my accustomed tenderness. She received me affectionately. At first I was tempted to reveal my conjectures to her, feeling more certain than ever that they were correct; but I restrained myself, in the hope that she might anticipate me by telling me of her own accord all that had occurred.

When supper was served, I sat down to the table with an air of great gayety; but, by the light of the candle which was placed between us, I detected, as I imagined, an expression of sadness in the face and eyes of my dear mistress. This thought inspired me, too, with melancholy. I observed that there was something unusual in the manner in which she looked at me. Whether to think it love or pity, I scarcely knew; but the sentiment, whatever it was, seemed to me a tender and wistful one.

I gazed at her with equal intentness; and, perhaps, she was no less at a loss to divine from mv face what were