ake? Yet she abandons me,
and the ungrateful creature thinks to screen herself from my reproaches
by professions of love! She pretends to dread starvation! God of
love, what grossness of sentiment! What an answer to the refinement of
my adoration! I had no dread of that kind; I, who have almost sought
starvation for her sake, by renouncing fortune and the comforts of my
father's house! I, who denied myself actual necessaries, in order to
gratify her little whims and caprices! She adores me, she says. If
you adored me, ungrateful creature, I well know what course you would
have taken; you would never have quitted me, at least without saying
adieu. It is only I who can tell the pangs and torments, of being
separated from all one loves. I must have taken leave of my senses, to
have voluntarily brought all this misery upon myself.'

"My lamentations were interrupted by a visit I little expected; it was
from Lescaut. 'Assassin!' cried I, putting my hand upon my sword,
'where is Manon? what have you done with her?' My agitation startled
him. He replied, that if this was the reception he was to meet, when
he came to offer me the most essential service it was in his power to
render me, he should take his leave, and never again cross my
threshold. I ran to the door of the apartment, which I shut. 'Do not
imagine,' I said, turning towards him, 'that you can once more make a
dupe of me with your lies and inventions. Either defend your life, or
tell me where I can find Manon.' 'How impatient you are!' replied he;
'that was in reality the object of my visit. I came to announce a
piece of good fortune which you little expected, and for which you will
probably feel somewhat grateful.' My curiosity was at once excited.

"He informed me that Manon, totally unable to endure the dread of want,
and, above all, the certainty of being at once obliged to dispense with
her equipage, had begged of him to make her acquainted with M. G----
M----, who had a character for liberality. He carefully avoided
telling me that this was the result of his own advice, and that he had
prepared the way before he introduced his sister. 'I took her there
this morning,' said he, 'and the fellow was so enchanted with her looks
that he at once invited her to accompany him to his country seat, where
he is gone to pass some days. As I plainly perceived,' said Lescaut,
'the advantage it may be to you, I took care to let him know that she
had lately