anything further, he added, trembling as he spoke, because the prince,
then on the point of leaving the wood, had approached him, and with the
most condescending familiarity asked his name; upon which, as if he at
once knew that he was in our service, he congratulated him on having,
for his mistress, the most enchanting person upon earth.

"I listened to this recital with the greatest impatience. He ended
with the most awkward excuses, which I attributed to the premature and
imprudent display of my own agitation. In vain I implored him to
continue his history. He protested that he knew nothing more, and that
what he had previously told me, having only happened the preceding day,
he had not had a second opportunity of seeing the prince's servants. I
encouraged him, not only with praises, but with a substantial
recompense; and without betraying the slightest distrust of Manon, I
requested him, in the mildest manner, to keep strict watch upon all the
foreigner's movements.

"In truth, the effect of his fright was to leave me in a state of the
cruellest suspense. It was possible that she had ordered him to
suppress part of the truth. However, after a little reflection, I
recovered sufficiently from my fears to see the manner in which I had
exposed my weaknesses. I could hardly consider it a crime in Manon to
be loved. Judging from appearances, it was probable that she was not
even aware of her conquest. 'And what kind of life shall I in future
lead,' thought I, 'if I am capable of letting jealousy so easily take
possession of my mind?'

"I returned on the following day to Paris, with no other intention than
to hasten the improvement of my fortune, by playing deeper than ever,
in order to be in a condition to quit Chaillot on the first real
occasion for uneasiness. That night I learned nothing at all
calculated to trouble my repose. The foreigner had, as usual, made his
appearance in the Bois de Boulogne; and venturing, from what had passed
the preceding day, to accost my servant more familiarly, he spoke to
him openly of his passion, but in such terms as not to lead to the
slightest suspicion of Manon's being aware of it. He put a thousand
questions to him, and at last tried to bribe him with large promises;
and taking a letter from his pocket, he in vain entreated him, with the
promise of some louis d'ors, to convey it to her.

"Two days passed without anything more occurring: the third was of a
different c