Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/98

102 This most honorable bargain was struck before my return; its actual fulfilment being postponed until the following day, when Lescaut should have apprised M. de G M of the arrangement.

I found Lescaut waiting for me when I reached home, but Manon had retired to bed in her own room, leaving orders with her servant to tell me that, as she felt in need of rest, she hoped that I would allow her to pass the night alone. Lescaut left me, after offering me a few pistoles, which I accepted. It was nearly four o'clock when I went to bed; and as even then I lay for a long while revolving in my mind some method of retrieving my fortunes, it was so late when I fell asleep that I did not awake until between eleven and twelve o'clock. Rising at once, I hastened to inquire how Manon was feeling; and was informed that she had gone out an hour before with her brother, who had called for her in a hackney-coach.

Although such an expedition with Lescaut struck me as mysterious, I forced myself to repress my suspicions, and whiled away some hours in reading. At last, unable any longer to master my disquietude, I strode rapidly back and forth through our apartments, until, in Manon's room, I caught sight of a sealed letter lying on the table. It was in her writing, and addressed to me. I tore it open with a shudder of mortal dread, and read as follows:

"I swear to you, my dear Chevalier, that you are the idol of my heart, and that in all this world there is not another man whom I could ever love as I love you. But do you not see, my poor dear soul, that in the plight to which we are now reduced, constancy is a foolish virtue? Do you suppose that weak mortals can indulge in tenderness while they lack bread to eat? Hunger, I fear, would