rtly at least to
satisfy her, I said that we might hire furnished apartments, and that
we might sleep there whenever we were late in quitting the assembly,
whither we often went; for the inconvenience of returning so late to
Chaillot was her excuse for wishing to leave it. We had thus two
dwellings, one in town and the other in the country. This change soon
threw our affairs into confusion, and led to two adventures, which
eventually caused our ruin.

"Manon had a brother in the Guards. He unfortunately lived in the very
street in which we had taken lodgings. He one day recognised his
sister at the window, and hastened over to us. He was a fellow of the
rudest manners, and without the slightest principle of honour. He
entered the room swearing in the most horrible way; and as he knew part
of his sister's history, he loaded her with abuse and reproaches.

"I had gone out the moment before, which was doubtless fortunate for
either him or me, for I was little disposed to brook an insult. I only
returned to the lodgings after he had left them. The low spirits in
which I found Manon convinced me at once that something extraordinary
had occurred. She told me of the provoking scene she had just gone
through, and of the brutal threats of her brother. I felt such
indignation, that I wished to proceed at once to avenge her, when she
entreated me with tears to desist.

"While we were still talking of the adventure, the guardsman again
entered the room in which we sat, without even waiting to be announced.
Had I known him, he should not have met from me as civil a reception as
he did; but saluting us with a smile upon his countenance, he addressed
himself to Manon, and said, he was come to make excuses for his
violence; that he had supposed her to be living a life of shame and
disgrace, and it was this notion that excited his rage; but having
since made enquiry from one of our servants, he had learned such a
character of me, that his only wish was now to be on terms with us both.

"Although this admission, of having gone for information to one of my
own servants, had in it something ludicrous as well as indelicate, I
acknowledged his compliments with civility, I thought by doing so to
please Manon, and I was not deceived--she was delighted at the
reconciliation. We made him stay to dine with us.

"In a little time he became so familiar, that hearing us speak of our
return to Chaillot, he insisted on accompanying us.