haracter. I learned on my arrival, later than usual, from
Paris, that Manon, while in the wood, had left her companions for a
moment, and that the foreigner, who had followed her at a short
distance, approached, upon her making him a sign, and that she handed
him a letter, which he took with a transport of joy. He had only time
to express his delight by kissing the billet-doux, for she was out of
sight in an instant. But she appeared in unusually high spirits the
remainder of the day; and even after her return to our lodgings, her
gaiety continued. I trembled at every word.

"'Are you perfectly sure,' said I, in an agony of fear, to my servant,
'that your eyes have not deceived you?' He called Heaven to witness
the truth of what he had told me.

"I know not to what excess the torments of my mind would have driven
me, if Manon, who heard me come in, had not met me with an air of
impatience, and complained of my delay. Before I had time to reply,
she loaded me with caresses; and when she found we were alone, she
reproached me warmly with the habit I was contracting of staying out so
late. My silence gave her an opportunity of continuing; and she then
said that for the last three weeks I had never spent one entire day in
her society; that she could not endure such prolonged absence; that she
should at least expect me to give up a day to her from time to time,
and that she particularly wished me to be with her on the following day
from morning till night.

"'You may be very certain I shall do that,' said I, in rather a sharp
tone. She did not appear to notice my annoyance; she seemed to me to
have more than her usual cheerfulness; and she described, with infinite
pleasantry, the manner in which she had spent the day.

"'Incomprehensible girl!" said I to myself; 'what am I to expect after
such a prelude?' The adventures of my first separation occurred to me;
nevertheless, I fancied I saw in her cheerfulness, and the affectionate
reception she gave me, an air of truth that perfectly accorded with her
professions.

"It was an easy matter at supper to account for the low spirits which I
could not conceal, by attributing them to a loss I had that day
sustained at the gaming-table. I considered it most fortunate that the
idea of my remaining all the next day at Chaillot was suggested by
herself: I should thus have ample time for deliberation. My presence
would prevent any fears for at least the next day; and if not