fy her infidelity. 'What is
your wish, then?' cried I. 'I wish to die,' she answered, 'if you will
not give me back that heart, without which it is impossible to endure
life.' 'Take my life too, then, faithless girl!' I exclaimed, in vain
endeavouring to restrain my tears; 'take my life also! it is the sole
sacrifice that remains for me to make, for my heart has never ceased to
be thine.'

"I had hardly uttered these words, when she rose in a transport of joy,
and approached to embrace me. She loaded me with a thousand caresses.
She addressed me by all the endearing appellations with which love
supplies his votaries, to enable them to express the most passionate
fondness. I still answered with affected coldness; but the sudden
transition from a state of quietude, such as that I had up to this
moment enjoyed, to the agitation and tumult which were now kindled in
my breast and tingled through my veins, thrilled me with a kind of
horror, and impressed me with a vague sense that I was about to undergo
some great transformation, and to enter upon a new existence.

"We sat down close by each other. I took her hand within mine, 'Ah!
Manon,' said I, with a look of sorrow, 'I little thought that love like
mine could have been repaid with treachery! It was a poor triumph to
betray a heart of which you were the absolute mistress--whose sole
happiness it was to gratify and obey you. Tell me if among others you
have found any so affectionate and so devoted? No, no! I believe
nature has cast few hearts in the same mould as mine. Tell me at least
whether you have ever thought of me with regret! Can I have any
reliance on the duration of the feeling that has brought you back to me
today? I perceive too plainly that you are infinitely lovelier than
ever: but I conjure you by all my past sufferings, dearest Manon, to
tell me--can you in future be more faithful?'

"She gave me in reply such tender assurances of her repentance, and
pledged her fidelity with such solemn protestations and vows, that I
was inexpressibly affected. 'Beauteous Manon,' said I, with rather a
profane mixture of amorous and theological expressions, 'you are too
adorable for a created being. I feel my heart transported with
triumphant rapture. It is folly to talk of liberty at St. Sulpice.
Fortune and reputation are but slight sacrifices at such a shrine! I
plainly foresee it: I can read my destiny in your bright eyes; but what
abundant recompense