“At last I thought I had discovered a clue to the mystery. `M. de B——­’ said I to myself, `is a man extensively engaged in commercial affairs; and Manon’s relations have no doubt remitted her money through his house.  She has probably already received some from him, and he is come today to bring her more.  She wishes, perhaps, to derive amusement by and by, from an agreeable surprise, by keeping me at present in the dark.  She would doubtless have at once told me all, if I had gone in as usual, instead of coming here to distress myself:  at all events, she will not conceal it from me when I broach the subject myself.’

“I cherished this idea so willingly, that it considerably lightened my grief.  I immediately returned to my lodgings, and embraced Manon as tenderly as ever.  She received me as usual.  At first I was tempted to mention my conjectures, which I now, more than ever, looked upon as certain; but I restrained myself in the hope that she might render it unnecessary by informing me of all that had passed.

“Supper was served.  Assuming an air of gaiety, I took my seat at table; but by the light of the candles which were between us, I fancied I perceived an air of melancholy about the eyes and countenance of my beloved mistress.  The very thought soon damped my gaiety.  I remarked that her looks wore an unusual expression, and although nothing could be more soft or languishing, I was at a loss to discover whether they conveyed more of love than of compassion.  I gazed at her with equal earnestness, and she perhaps had no less difficulty in comprehending from my countenance what was passing in my heart.  We neither spoke nor ate.  At length I saw tears starting from her beauteous eyes—­perfidious tears! `Oh heavens!’ I cried, `my dearest Manon, why allow your sorrows to afflict you to this degree without imparting their cause to me?’ She answered me only with sighs, which increased my misery.  I arose trembling from my seat:  I conjured her, with all the urgent earnestness of love, to let me know the cause of her grief:  I wept in endeavouring to soothe her sorrows:  I was more dead than alive.  A barbarian would have pitied my sufferings as I stood trembling with grief and apprehension.

“While my attention was thus confined to her, I heard people coming upstairs.  They tapped gently at the door.  Manon gave me a kiss, and escaping from my arms, quickly entered the boudoir, turning the key after her.  I imagined that, not being dressed to receive strangers, she was unwilling to meet the persons who had knocked; I went to let them in.

“I had hardly opened the door, when I found myself seized by three men, whom I recognised as my father’s servants.  They offered not the least violence, but two of them taking me by the arms, the third examined my pockets, and took out a small knife, the only weapon I had about me.  They begged pardon for the necessity they were under of treating me with apparent disrespect; telling me frankly that they were acting by the orders of my father, and that my eldest brother was in a carriage below waiting to receive me.  My feelings were so overpowered, that I allowed myself to be led away without making either reply or resistance.  I found my brother waiting for me as they had stated.  They placed me by his side, and the coachman immediately drove, by his orders, towards St. Denis.