Manon Lescaut
other priests were, and even bishops, who by no means considered a
mistress incompatible with a good and holy life.' 'Look,' I said, 'at
Manon's eyes, and tell me if there is one in the long catalogue of sins
that might not there find a plea of justification.' He bore these
sallies patiently, and carried his forbearance almost too far: but when
he saw my funds increase, and that I had not only returned him the
hundred and seventy crowns, but having hired a new house and trebled my
expenses, I had plunged deeper than ever into a life of pleasure, he
changed his tone and manner towards me. He lamented my obduracy. He
warned me against the chastisement of the Divine wrath, and predicted
some of the miseries with which indeed I was shortly afterwards
visited. 'It is impossible,' he said, 'that the money which now serves
to support your debaucheries can have been acquired honourably. You
have come by it unjustly, and in the same way shall it be taken from
you. The most awful punishment Heaven could inflict would be to allow
you the undisturbed enjoyment of it. All my advice,' he added, 'has
been useless; I too plainly perceive that it will shortly become
troublesome to you. I now take my leave; you are a weak, as well as an
ungrateful friend! May your criminal enjoyments vanish as a shadow!
may your ill-gotten wealth leave you without a resource; and may you
yourself remain alone and deserted, to learn the vanity of these
things, which now divert you from better pursuits! When that time
arrives, you will find me disposed to love and to serve you; this day
ends our intercourse, and I once for all avow my horror of the life you
are leading.'
"It was in my room and in Manon's presence that he delivered this
apostolical harangue. He rose to depart. I was about to detain him;
but was prevented by Manon, who said it was better to let the madman go.
"What he said, however, did not fail to make some impression upon me.
I notice these brief passages of my life when I experienced a returning
sentiment of virtue, because it was to those traces, however light,
that I was afterwards indebted for whatever of fortitude I displayed
under the most trying circumstances.
"Manon's caresses soon dissipated the annoyance this scene had caused
me. We continued to lead a life entirely devoted to pleasure and love.
The increase of our wealth only redoubled our affection. There were none
happier among all the devotees of Venus and Fortune. Heavens! why call
this a world of misery, when it can furnish a life of such rapturous
enjoyment? But alas, it is too soon over! For what ought man to sigh,
could such felicity but last for ever? Ours shared the common fate--in
being of short duration, and followed by lasting regrets.
"I had realised by play such a considerable sum of money, that I
thought of investing a portion of it. My servants were not ignorant of
my good luck, particularly my valet and Manon's own maid, before whom
we often talked without any reserve. The maid was handsome, and my
valet in love with her. They knew they had to deal with a young and
inexperienced couple, whom they fancied they could impose upon without
much difficulty. They laid a plan, and executed it with so much skill,
that they reduced us to a state from which it was never afterwards
possible for us to extricate ourselves.
"Having supped one evening at Lescaut's, it was about midnight when we
returned home. I asked for my valet, and Manon for her maid; neither
one nor the other could be found. They had not been seen in the house
since eight o'clock, and had gone out, after having some cases carried
before them, according to orders which they pretended to have received
from me. I at once foresaw a part of the truth, but my suspicions were
infinitely surpassed by what presented itself on going into my room.
The lock of my closet had been forced, and my cash as well as my best
clothes were gone. While I stood stupefied with amazement, Manon came,
in the greatest alarm, to inform me that her apartment had been rifled
in the same manner.
"This blow was so perfectly astounding, so cruel, that it was with
difficulty I could refrain from tears. The dread of infecting Manon
with my despair made me assume a more contented air. I said, smiling,
that I should avenge myself upon some unhappy dupe at the hotel of
Transylvania. However, she appeared so sensibly affected, that her
grief increased my sorrow infinitely more than my attempt succeeded in
supporting her spirits. 'We are destroyed!' said she, with tears in
her eyes. I endeavoured, in vain, by my entreaties and caresses, to
console her. My own lamentations betrayed my distress and despair. In
fact, we were so completely ruined, that we were bereft almost of
decent covering.
"I determined to send off at once for Lescaut. He advised me to go
immediately to the lieutenant of police, and to give information also
to the Grand Provost of Paris. I went, but it was to add to my
calamities only; for, independently of my visit producing not the
smallest good effect, I, by my absence, allowed Lescaut time for
discussion with his sister, during which he did not fail to inspire her
with the most horrible resolutions. He spoke to her about M. G----
M----, an old voluptuary, who paid prodigally for his pleasures; he so
glowingly described the advantages of such a connection, that she
entered into all his plans. This discreditable arrangement was all
concluded before my return, and the execution of it only postponed till
the next morning, after Lescaut should have apprised G---- M----.
"I found him, on my return, waiting for me at my house; but Manon had
retired to her own apartment, and she had desired the footman to tell
me that, having need of repose, she hoped she should not be disturbed
that night. Lescaut left me, after offering me a few crowns which I
accepted.
"It was nearly four o'clock when I retired to bed; and having revolved
in my mind various schemes for retrieving my fortunes, I fell asleep so
late that I did not awake till between eleven and twelve o'clock. I
rose at once to enquire after Manon's health; they told me that she had
gone out an hour before with her brother, who had come for her in a
hired carriage. Although there appeared something mysterious in such a
proceeding, I endeavoured to check my rising suspicions. I allowed
some hours to pass, during which I amused myself with reading. At
length, being unable any longer to stifle my uneasiness, I paced up and
down the apartments. A sealed letter upon Manon's table at last caught
my eye. It was addressed to me, and in her handwriting. I felt my
blood freeze as I opened it; it was in these words:
I protest to you, dearest chevalier, that you are the idol of my heart,
and that you are the only being on earth whom I can truly love; but do
you not see, my own poor dear chevalier, that in the situation to which
we are now reduced, fidelity would be worse than madness? Do you think
tenderness possibly compatible with starvation? For my part, hunger
would be sure to drive me to some fatal end. Heaving some day a sigh
for love, I should find it was my last. I adore you, rely upon that;
but leave to me, for a short while, the management of our fortunes.
God help the man who falls into my hands. My only wish is to render my
chevalier rich and happy. My brother will tell you about me; he can
vouch for my grief in yielding to the necessity of parting from you.
"I remained, after reading this, in a state which it would be difficult
to describe; for even now I know not the nature of the feelings which
then agitated me. It was one of those unique situations of which
others can never have experienced anything even approaching to
similarity. It is impossible to explain it, because other persons can
have no idea of its nature; and one can hardly even analyse it to
oneself. Memory furnishes nothing that will connect it with the past,
and therefore ordinary language is inadequate to describe it. Whatever
was its nature, however, it is certain that grief, hate, jealousy, and
shame entered into its composition. Fortunate would it have proved for
me if love also had not been a component part!
"'That she loves me,' I exclaimed, 'I can believe; but could she,
without being a monster, hate me? What right can man ever have to
woman's affections which I had not to Manon's? What is left to me,
after all the sacrifices I have made for her sake? Yet she abandons me,
and the ungrateful creature thinks to screen herself from my reproaches
by professions of love! She pretends to dread starvation! God of
love, what grossness of sentiment! What an answer to the refinement of
my adoration! I had no dread of that kind; I, who have almost sought
starvation for her sake, by renouncing fortune and the comforts of my
father's house! I, who denied myself actual necessaries, in order to
gratify her little whims and caprices! She adores me, she says. If
you adored me, ungrateful creature, I well know what course you would
have taken; you would never have quitted me, at least without saying
adieu. It is only I who can tell the pangs and torments, of being
separated from all one loves. I must have taken leave of my senses, to
have voluntarily brought all this misery upon myself.'
"My lamentations were interrupted by a visit I little expected; it was
from Lescaut. 'Assassin!' cried I, putting my hand upon my sword,
'where is Manon? what have you done with her?' My agitation startled
him. He replied, that if this was the reception he was to meet, when
he came to offer me the most essential service it was in his power to
render me, he should take his leave, and never again cross my
threshold. I ran to the door of the apartment, which I shut. 'Do not
imagine,' I said, turning towards him, 'that you can once more make a
dupe of me with your lies and inventions. Either defend your life, or
tell me where I can find Manon.' 'How impatient you are!' replied he;
'that was in reality the object of my visit. I came to announce a
piece of good fortune which you little expected, and for which you will
probably feel somewhat grateful.' My curiosity was at once excited.
"He informed me that Manon, totally unable to endure the dread of want,
and, above all, the certainty of being at once obliged to dispense with
her equipage, had begged of him to make her acquainted with M. G----
M----, who had a character for liberality. He carefully avoided
telling me that this was the result of his own advice, and that he had
prepared the way before he introduced his sister. 'I took her there
this morning,' said he, 'and the fellow was so enchanted with her looks
that he at once invited her to accompany him to his country seat, where
he is gone to pass some days. As I plainly perceived,' said Lescaut,
'the advantage it may be to you, I took care to let him know that she
had lately experienced very considerable losses; and I so piqued his
generosity that he began by giving her four hundred crowns. I told him
that was well enough for a commencement, but that my sister would have,
for the future, many demands for money; that she had the charge of a
young brother, who had been thrown upon her hands since the death of
our parents; and that, if he wished to prove himself worthy of her
affections, he would not allow her to suffer uneasiness upon account of
this child, whom she regarded as part of herself. This speech produced
its effect, he at once promised to take a house for you and Manon, for
you must know that you are the poor little orphan. He undertook to set
you up in furniture, and to give you four hundred livres a month, which
if I calculate rightly, will amount to four thousand eight hundred per