Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier Des Grieux.djvu/27

26 ** You treat me with such noble g'enerosity, sir," he said to me, **that I should reproach myself with base ingratitude were I to withhold anything from you which it would interest you to hear. I will tell you, if you cai-e to listen, not only my misfortunes and sufferings, but the follies and misdeeds for which I have most cause to blush ; and I am sure that, while you may condemn, you cannot help but pity me. ' [I must here explain that I committ^ed the young man's story to writing almost immediatt»ly after hearing it, and that the reader may consequently rest assured of the abso- lute accuracy and fidelity of the following narrative. Its fidelity extends, I may say, even to the relation of the reflections and sentiments to which the young adventurer gave expression in language of the utmost grace. Here, then, is his st^ory ; to which I shall add not a single word, from beginning to end, that is not his own.] i t