“I was immediately confined as a close prisoner.  My trial was ordered; and as Manon was not forthcoming, I was accused of having murdered her from rage and jealousy.  I naturally related all that had occurred.  Synnelet, though bitterly grieved and disappointed by what he heard, had the generosity to solicit my pardon:  he obtained it.

“I was so reduced, that they were obliged to carry me from the prison to my bed, and there I suffered for three long months under severe illness.  My aversion from life knew no diminution.  I continually prayed for death, and obstinately for some time refused every remedy.  But Providence, after having punished me with atoning rigour, saw fit to turn to my own use its chastisements and the memory of my multiplied sorrows.  It at length deigned to shed upon me its redeeming light, and revived in my mind ideas worthy of my birth and my early education.

“My tranquillity of mind being again restored, my cure speedily followed.  I began only to feel the highest aspirations of honour, and diligently performed the duties of my appointment, whilst expecting the arrival of the vessels from France, which were always due at this period of the year.  I resolved to return to my native country, there to expiate the scandal of my former life by my future good conduct.  Synnelet had the remains of my dear mistress removed into a more hallowed spot.

“It was six weeks after my recovery that, one day walking alone upon the banks of the river, I saw a vessel arrive, which some mercantile speculation had directed to New Orleans.  I stood by whilst the passengers landed.  Judge my surprise on recognising Tiberge amongst those who proceeded towards the town.  This ever-faithful friend knew me at a distance, in spite of the ravages which care and sorrow had worked upon my countenance.  He told me that the sole object of his voyage had been to see me once more, and to induce me to return with him to France; that on receipt of the last letter which I had written to him from Havre, he started for that place, and was himself the bearer of the succour which I solicited; that he had been sensibly affected on learning my departure, and that he would have instantly followed me, if there had been a vessel bound for the same destination; that he had been for several months endeavouring to hear of one in the various seaport towns, and that, having at length found one at St. Malo which was weighing anchor for Martinique, he embarked, in the expectation of easily passing from thence to New Orleans; that the St. Malo vessel having been captured by Spanish pirates and taken to one of their islands, he had contrived to escape; and that, in short, after many adventures, he had got on board the vessel which had just arrived, and at length happily attained his object.