“I stood like one enchanted at beholding her.  Unable to divine the object of her visit, I waited trembling and with downcast looks until she explained herself.  At first, her embarrassment was equal to mine; but, seeing that I was not disposed to break silence, she raised her hand to her eyes to conceal a starting tear, and then, in a timid tone, said that she well knew she had justly earned my abhorrence by her infidelity; but that if I had ever really felt any love for her, there was not much kindness in allowing two long years to pass without enquiring after her, and as little now in seeing her in the state of mental distress in which she was, without condescending to bestow upon her a single word.  I shall not attempt to describe what my feelings were as I listened to this reproof.

“She seated herself.  I remained standing, with my face half turned aside, for I could not muster courage to meet her look.  I several times commenced a reply without power to conclude it.  At length I made an effort, and in a tone of poignant grief exclaimed:  `Perfidious Manon! perfidious, perfidious creature!’ She had no wish, she repeated with a flood of tears, to attempt to justify her infidelity. `What is your wish, then?’ cried I. `I wish to die,’ she answered, `if you will not give me back that heart, without which it is impossible to endure life.’ `Take my life too, then, faithless girl!’ I exclaimed, in vain endeavouring to restrain my tears; `take my life also! it is the sole sacrifice that remains for me to make, for my heart has never ceased to be thine.’

“I had hardly uttered these words, when she rose in a transport of joy, and approached to embrace me.  She loaded me with a thousand caresses.  She addressed me by all the endearing appellations with which love supplies his votaries, to enable them to express the most passionate fondness.  I still answered with affected coldness; but the sudden transition from a state of quietude, such as that I had up to this moment enjoyed, to the agitation and tumult which were now kindled in my breast and tingled through my veins, thrilled me with a kind of horror, and impressed me with a vague sense that I was about to undergo some great transformation, and to enter upon a new existence.

“We sat down close by each other.  I took her hand within mine, `Ah!  Manon,’ said I, with a look of sorrow, `I little thought that love like mine could have been repaid with treachery!  It was a poor triumph to betray a heart of which you were the absolute mistress—­whose sole happiness it was to gratify and obey you.  Tell me if among others you have found any so affectionate and so devoted?  No, no!  I believe nature has cast few hearts in the same mould as mine.  Tell me at least whether you have ever thought of me with regret!  Can I have any reliance on the duration of the feeling that has brought you back to me today?  I perceive too plainly that you are infinitely lovelier than ever:  but I conjure you by all my past sufferings, dearest Manon, to tell me—­can you in future be more faithful?’