“I made many other pressing and tender speeches; and my unknown fair one was perfectly aware that mine was not the age for deceit.  She confessed to me that if I could see but a reasonable hope of being able to effect her enfranchisement, she should deem herself indebted for my kindness in more than life itself could pay.  I repeated that I was ready to attempt anything in her behalf; but, not having sufficient experience at once to imagine any reasonable plan of serving her, I did not go beyond this general assurance, from which indeed little good could arise either to her or to myself.  Her old guardian having by this time joined us, my hopes would have been blighted, but that she had tact enough to make amends for my stupidity.  I was surprised, on his approaching us, to hear her call me her cousin, and say, without being in the slightest degree disconcerted, that as she had been so fortunate as to fall in with me at Amiens, she would not go into the convent until the next morning, in order to have the pleasure of meeting me at supper.  Innocent as I was, I at once comprehended the meaning of this ruse; and proposed that she should lodge for the night at the house of an innkeeper, who, after being many years my father’s coachman, had lately established himself at Amiens, and who was sincerely attached to me.

“I conducted her there myself, at which the old Argus appeared to grumble a little; and my friend Tiberge, who was puzzled by the whole scene, followed, without uttering a word.  He had not heard our conversation, having walked up and down the court while I was talking of love to my angelic mistress.  As I had some doubts of his discretion, I got rid of him, by begging that he would execute a commission for me.  I had thus the happiness, on arriving at the inn, of entertaining alone the sovereign of my heart.

“I soon learned that I was less a child than I had before imagined.  My heart expanded to a thousand sentiments of pleasure, of which I had not before the remotest idea.  A delicious consciousness of enjoyment diffused itself through my whole mind and soul.  I sank into a kind of ecstasy, which deprived me for a time of the power of utterance, and which found vent only in a flood of tears.

“Manon Lescaut (this she told me was her name) seemed gratified by the visible effect of her own charms.  She appeared to me not less excited than myself.  She acknowledged that she was greatly pleased with me, and that she should be enchanted to owe to me her freedom and future happiness.  She would insist on hearing who I was, and the knowledge only augmented her affection; for, being herself of humble birth, she was flattered by securing for her lover a man of family.