That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites.
SHAKESPEARE.
"The whole affair was so involved in obscurity that I could not see my
way even to a reasonable conjecture. I was cruelly betrayed--that was
certain; but by whom? Tiberge first occurred to me. 'Tiberge!' said
I, 'it is as much as thy life is worth, if my suspicions turn out to be
well founded.' However, I recollected that he could not by possibility
know my abode; and therefore, he could not have furnished the
information. To accuse Manon was more than my heart was capable of.
The unusual melancholy with which she had lately seemed weighed down,
her tears, the tender kiss she gave me in parting, made it all as yet a
mystery to me. I could only look upon her recent melancholy as a
presentiment of our common misfortune; and while I was deploring the
event which tore me from her, I was credulous enough to consider her
fate as much deserving of pity as my own.
"The result of my reflections was, that I had been seen and followed in
the streets of Paris by some persons of my acquaintance, who had
conveyed the information to my father. This idea comforted me. I made
up my mind to encounter some reproaches, or perhaps harsh treatment,
for having outraged the paternal authority. I resolved, however, to
suffer with patience, and to promise all that might be required of me,
in order to facilitate my speedy return to Paris, that I might restore
life and happiness to my dear Manon.
"We soon arrived at St. Denis. My brother, surprised at my long
silence, thought it the effect of fear. He assured me that I had
nothing to apprehend from my father's severity, provided I showed a
disposition to return quietly to the path of duty, and prove myself
worthy of his affection. He made me pass the night at St. Denis,
merely taking the precaution of putting the three lackeys to sleep in
my room. It cost me a pang to find myself in the same inn where I had
stopped with Manon on our way from Amiens to Paris. The innkeeper and
his servants recognised me, and guessed at once the truth of my
history. I overheard them say, 'Ah! that's the handsome young
gentleman who travelled this road about a month ago, with the beautiful
girl he appeared so much in love with! How pretty she was! The poor
young things, how they caressed each other! Pity if they have been
separated!' I pretended not to hear, and kept as much out of sight as
possible.
"At St. Denis my brother had a chariot waiting for us, in which we
started early the next morning, and arrived at home before night.
"He saw my father first, in order to make a favourable impression by
telling him how quietly I had allowed myself to be brought away, so
that his reception of me was less austere than I had expected. He
merely rebuked me in general terms for the offence I had committed, by
absenting myself without his permission. As for my mistress, he said I
richly deserved what had happened to me, for abandoning myself to a
person utterly unknown; that he had entertained a better opinion of my
discretion; but that he hoped this little adventure would make me
wiser. I took the whole lecture only in the sense that accorded with
my own notions. I thanked my father for his indulgence, and promised
that I would in future observe a better regulated and more obedient
course of conduct. I felt that I had secured a triumph; for, from the
present aspect of affairs, there was no doubt that I should be free to
effect my escape from the house even before the night was over.
"We sat down to supper. They rallied me about my Amiens conquest, and
my flight with that paragon of fidelity. I took their jokes in good
part, glad enough at being permitted to revolve in my mind the plans I
had meditated; but some words which fell from my father made me listen
with earnest attention. He spoke of perfidy, and the not disinterested
kindness he had received at the hands of M. de B----. I was almost
paralysed on hearing the name, and begged of my father to explain
himself. He turned to my brother, to ask if he had not told me the
whole story. My brother answered, that I appeared to him so tranquil
upon the road, that he did not suppose I required this remedy to cure
me of my folly. I remarked that my father was doubtful whether he
should give me the explanation or not. I entreated him so earnestly
that he satisfied me, or I should rather say tortured me, with the
following most horrible narration.
"He began by asking me whether I was really simple enough to believe
that I had been really loved by the girl. I told him confidently that
I was perfectly sure of it, and that nothing could make me for a moment
doubt it. 'Ha, ha, ha!' said he, with a loud laugh; 'that is excellent!
you are a pretty dupe! Admirable idea! 'Twould be a thousand pities,
my poor chevalier, to make you a Knight of Malta, with all the
requisites you possess for a patient and accommodating husband.' He
continued in the same tone to ridicule what he was pleased to call my
dullness and credulity.
"He concluded, while I maintained a profound silence, by saying that,
according to the nicest calculation he could make of the time since my
departure from Amiens, Manon must have been in love with me about
twelve days; 'for,' said he, 'I know that you left Amiens on the 28th
of last month; this is, the 29th of the present; it is eleven days
since M. de B---- wrote to me; I suppose he required eight days to
establish a perfect understanding with your mistress; so that, take
eight and eleven from thirty-one days, the time between the 28th of one
month and the 29th of the next, there remains twelve, more or less!'
This joke was followed by shouts of laughter.
"I heard it all with a kind of sinking of the heart that I thought I
could not bear up against, until he finished. 'You must know then,'
continued my father, 'since you appear as yet ignorant of it, that M.
de B---- has won the affections of your idol; for he can't be serious
in pretending that it is his disinterested regard for me that has
induced him to take her from you. It would be absurd to expect such
noble sentiments from a man of his description, and one, besides, who
is a perfect stranger to me. He knew that you were my son, and in
order to get rid of you, he wrote to inform me of your abode, and of
the life you led; saying, at the same time, that strong measures would
be necessary to secure you.
"He offered to procure me the means of laying hold of you; and it was
by his direction, as well as that of your mistress herself, that your
brother hit upon the moment for catching you unawares. Now, you may
congratulate yourself upon the duration of your triumph. You know how
to conquer, rapid enough; but you have yet to learn how to secure your
conquests.'
"I could no longer endure these remarks, every one of which struck a
dagger to my heart. I arose from the table, and had not advanced four
steps towards the door, when I fell upon the floor, perfectly
senseless. By prompt applications they soon brought me to myself. My
eyes opened only to shed a torrent of tears, and my lips to utter the
most sorrowful and heartrending complaints. My father, who always loved
me most affectionately, tried every means to console me. I listened to
him, but his words were without effect. I threw myself at his feet, in
the attitude of prayer, conjuring him to let me return to Paris, and
destroy the monster B----. 'No!' cried I; 'he has not gained Manon's
heart; he may have seduced her by charms, or by drugs; he may have even
brutally violated her. Manon loves me. Do I not know that well? He
must have terrified her with a poniard, to induce her to abandon me.'
What must he not have done to have robbed me of my angelic mistress?
Oh Heaven! Heaven! can it be possible that Manon deceived me, or that
she has ceased to love me!
"As I continued to rave about returning at once to Paris, and was
perpetually starting up with that purpose, my father clearly saw that
while the paroxysm lasted, no arguments could pacify me. He conducted
me to one of the upper rooms, and left two servants to keep constant
watch over me. I was completely bewildered. I would have given a
thousand lives to be but for one quarter of an hour in Paris. I had
sense enough, however, to know that having so openly declared my
intention, they would not easily allow me to quit my chamber. I looked
at the height of the windows. Seeing no possibility of escaping that
way, I addressed the servants in the most tranquil tone. I promised,
with the most solemn vows, to make at some future day their fortunes,
if they would but consent to my escape. I entreated them; I tried
caresses, and lastly threats; but all were unavailing. I gave myself
up to despair. I resolved to die; and threw myself upon the bed, with
a firm determination to quit it only with my life. In this situation I
passed the night and the following day. I refused the nourishment that
was brought to me next morning.
"My father came to see me in the afternoon. He tried in the most
affectionate manner, to soothe my grief. He desired me so urgently to
take some refreshment, that, to gratify him, I obeyed his wishes.
Several days passed, during which I took nothing but in his presence,
and at his special request. He continued to furnish new arguments to
restore me to my proper senses, and to inspire me with merited contempt
for the faithless Manon. I certainly had lost all esteem for her: how
could I esteem the most fickle and perfidious of created beings! But
her image--those exquisite features, which were engraven on my heart's
core, were still uneffaced. I understood my own feelings: 'I may
die,' said I, 'and I ought to die after so much shame and grief; but I
might suffer a thousand deaths without being able to forget the ingrate
Manon.'
"My father was surprised at my still continuing so powerfully affected.
He knew that I was imbued with the principles of honour; and not
doubting that her infidelity must make me despise her, fancied that my
obstinacy proceeded less from this particular passion, than from a
general inclination towards the sex. This idea so took possession of
his mind, that, prompted only by his affection for me, he came one day
to reveal his thoughts. 'Chevalier,' said he to me, 'it has been
hitherto my intention to make you bear the Cross of Malta: I now see
that your inclinations do not bend that way. You are an admirer of
beauty. I shall be able to find you a wife to your taste. Let me
candidly know how you feel upon the subject.'
"I answered that I could never again see the slightest difference
amongst women, and that after the misfortune I had experienced, I
detested them all equally. 'I will find you one,' replied my father,
smiling, 'who shall resemble Manon in beauty, but who shall be more
faithful.' 'Ah! if you have any mercy,' said I, 'you will restore my
Manon to me. Be assured, my dear father, that she has not betrayed me;
she is incapable of such base and cruel treachery. It is the
perfidious B---- who deceives both her and me. If you could form an
idea of her tenderness and her sincerity--if you only knew her, you
yourself would love her!' 'You are absolutely a child,' replied my
father. 'How can you so delude yourself, after what I have told you
about her? It was she who actually delivered you up to your brother.
You ought to obliterate even her name from your memory, and take
advantage, if you are wise, of the indulgence I am showing you.'
"I very clearly perceived that my father was right. It was an
involuntary emotion that made me thus take part with the traitor.
'Alas!' replied I, after a moment's silence, 'it is but too true that I
am the unhappy victim of the vilest perfidy. Yes,' I continued, while
shedding tears of anger, 'I too clearly perceive that I am indeed but a
child. Credulity like mine was easily gulled; but I shall be at no
loss to revenge myself.' My father enquired of me my intentions: 'I
will go to Paris,' I said, 'set fire to B----'s house, and immolate him
and the perfidious Manon together.' This burst made my father laugh,
and had only the effect of causing me to be more vigilantly watched in
my cell.
"I thus passed six long months; during the first of which my mind
underwent little change. My feelings were in a state of perpetual
alternation between hate and love; between hope and despair; according
as, the tendency of each passing thought brought Manon back to my
recollection. At one time, I could see in her the most delightful of
women only, and sigh for the pleasure of beholding her once more; at
another, I felt she was the most unworthy and perfidious of mistresses,
and I would on these occasions swear never again to seek her, but for
the purpose of revenge.
"I was supplied with books, which served to restore my peace of mind.
I read once again all my favourite authors; and I became acquainted
with new ones. All my former taste for study was revived. You will
see of what use this was to me in the sequel. The light I had already
derived from love, enabled me to comprehend many passages in Horace and
Virgil which had before appeared obscure. I wrote an amatory
commentary upon the fourth book of the AEneid. I intend one day to
publish it, and I flatter myself it will be popular.
"'Alas!' I used to exclaim, 'whilst employed on that work, it was for a
heart like mine the faithful Dido sighed, and sighed in vain!'