Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/63

Rh that it was still more cruel not to have a word to say to her now that I saw her standing before me in such deep distress.

I cannot descrihe the tumult of feelings in my heart as I listened to her.

She sat down. I remained standing, half turned towards her, hut not daring to trust myself to look her full in the face. More than once I began a reply, but my strength failed me before I could complete it, and the words died away upon my lips. At last, by a supreme effort, I cried in a tone of anguish:

"Manon! Manon! False and heartless girl!"

Weeping bitterly, she told me once more that she had no intention of justifying her perfidious conduct.

"Then, what is your intention?" I cried.

"To die!" was her response; "unless you give me back your heart, for without it I cannot live!"

"Then ask my life, faithless girl!" I said, giving way at last to the tears which I had been vainly striving to restrain; "ask me for my life, which is the only thing left me to sacrifice to you; as for my heart, it has never ceased to be yours."