Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/56

60 prosperous appearance at the expense of some new lover. He had followed her coach home, and learned from a servant that she was living upon the liberality of M. B.

"I did not stop at this," he continued, "but returned to the house the next day, to ascertain from her own lips what had become of you. She left me abruptly when I mentioned your name, and I was compelled to return to the country without any further enlightenment. There I heard all about your adventure, and the profound distress which it had caused you, but I thought it as well not to see you until I was assured of finding you more resigned."

"And you have seen Manon, then," I responded, with a sigh. "Alas! you are more fortunate than I, who am doomed never to behold her again!"

He reproached me for my sigh, which betrayed a lingering weakness for her; and then flattered me so adroitly on the goodness of my character and general disposition that, even during this first visit, he succeeded in inspiring me with an ardent desire to renounce, like him, all worldly pleasures, and to enter the Church.

I was so enamoured of this idea that, when once more left to myself, I thought of nothing else. I recurred in memory to the words of the Bishop of Amiens, who had given me the same advice, and to the bright augury which he had drawn of my success, should I decide to embrace that calling. Piety, too, was not without its share in influencing me. "I will lead," thought I, "a holy and Christian life. I will devote myself to study and to religion, which will leave me no time to think of love and its dangerous pleasures. I will hold in contempt all that is admired by the common herd of mankind; and, since I feel an inward assurance that my heart will desire nothing but what is worthy of its esteem, I shall have but few wishes, and as few cares."