imacy
with my former companions at the hotel of Transylvania, I began to play
in certain coteries less notorious, where my good luck rendered it
unnecessary for me to have recourse to my former accomplishments. I
passed a part of the afternoon in town, and returned always to supper
at Chaillot, accompanied very often by M. de T----, whose intimacy and
friendship for us daily increased.

"Manon soon found resources against ennui. She became acquainted with
some young ladies, whom the spring brought into the neighbourhood.
They occupied their leisure hours in walking, and the customary
amusements of persons of their sex and age. Their little gains at cards
(always within innocent limits) were laid out in defraying the expense
of a coach, in which they took an airing occasionally in the Bois de
Boulogne; and each night when I returned, I was sure of finding Manon
more beautiful--more contented--more affectionate than ever.

"There arose, however, certain clouds, which seemed to threaten the
continuance of this blissful tranquillity, but they were soon
dispelled; and Manon's sprightliness made the affair so excessively
comical in its termination, that it is even now pleasing to recur to
it, as a proof of the tenderness as well as the cheerfulness of her
disposition.

"The only servant we had came to me one day, with great embarrassment,
and taking me aside, told me that he had a secret of the utmost
importance to communicate to me. I urged him to explain himself
without reserve. After some hesitation, he gave me to understand that
a foreigner of high rank had apparently fallen in love with Manon. I
felt my blood boil at the announcement. 'Has she shown any penchant
for him?' I enquired, interrupting my informant with more impatience
than was requisite, if I desired to have a full explanation.

"He was alarmed at my excitement; and replied in an undecided tone,
that he had not made sufficiently minute observation to satisfy me; but
that, having noticed for several days together the regular arrival of
the stranger at the Bois de Boulogne, where, quitting his carriage, he
walked by himself in the cross-avenues, appearing to seek opportunities
of meeting Manon, it had occurred to him to form an acquaintance with
the servants, in order to discover the name of their master; that they
spoke of him as an Italian prince, and that they also suspected he was
upon some adventure of gallantry. He had not been able to learn