ng a magnificent pearl
necklace with other jewels, and, in advance, half of the yearly pension
he had engaged to allow her. 'Leave me only time enough,' said she to
me, to get possession of these presents; I promise you that he will
have little to boast of from his connection with me, for in the country
I repulsed all his advances, putting him off till our return to town.
It is true that he has kissed my hand a thousand times over, and it is
but just that he should pay for even this amusement: I am sure that,
considering his riches as well as his age, five or six thousand francs
is not an unreasonable price!'

"Her determination was of more value in my eyes than twenty thousand
crowns. I could feel that I was not yet bereft of every sentiment of
honour, by the satisfaction I experienced at escaping thus from infamy,
But I was born for brief joys, and miseries of long duration. Fate
never rescued me from one precipice, but to lead me to another. When I
had expressed my delight to Manon at this change in her intentions, I
told her she had better inform Lescaut of it, in order that we might
take our measures in concert. At first he murmured, but the money in
hand induced him to enter into our views. It was then determined that
we should all meet at G---- M----'s supper table, and that, for two
reasons: first, for the amusement of passing me off as a schoolboy, and
brother to Manon; and secondly, to prevent the old profligate from
taking any liberties with his mistress, on the strength of his liberal
payments in advance. Lescaut and I were to retire, when he went to the
room where he expected to pass the night; and Manon, instead of
following him, promised to come out, and join us. Lescaut undertook to
have a coach waiting at the door.

"The supper hour having arrived, M. G---- M---- made his appearance.
Already Lescaut was with his sister in the supper room. The moment the
lover entered, he presented his fair one with a complete set of pearls,
necklaces, ear-rings, and bracelets, which must have cost at least a
thousand crowns. He then placed on the table before her, in louis
d'or, two thousand four hundred francs, the half of her year's
allowance. He seasoned his present with many pretty speeches in the
true style of the old court. Manon could not refuse him a few kisses:
it was sealing her right to the money which he had just handed to her.
I was at the door, and waiting for Lescaut's signal to enter the ro