“I had gone out the moment before, which was doubtless fortunate for either him or me, for I was little disposed to brook an insult.  I only returned to the lodgings after he had left them.  The low spirits in which I found Manon convinced me at once that something extraordinary had occurred.  She told me of the provoking scene she had just gone through, and of the brutal threats of her brother.  I felt such indignation, that I wished to proceed at once to avenge her, when she entreated me with tears to desist.

“While we were still talking of the adventure, the guardsman again entered the room in which we sat, without even waiting to be announced.  Had I known him, he should not have met from me as civil a reception as he did; but saluting us with a smile upon his countenance, he addressed himself to Manon, and said, he was come to make excuses for his violence; that he had supposed her to be living a life of shame and disgrace, and it was this notion that excited his rage; but having since made enquiry from one of our servants, he had learned such a character of me, that his only wish was now to be on terms with us both.

“Although this admission, of having gone for information to one of my own servants, had in it something ludicrous as well as indelicate, I acknowledged his compliments with civility, I thought by doing so to please Manon, and I was not deceived—­she was delighted at the reconciliation.  We made him stay to dine with us.

“In a little time he became so familiar, that hearing us speak of our return to Chaillot, he insisted on accompanying us.  We were obliged to give him a seat in our carriage.  This was in fact putting him into possession, for he soon began to feel so much pleasure in our company, that he made our house his home, and made himself in some measure master of all that belonged to us.  He called me his brother, and, under the semblance of fraternal freedom, he put himself on such a footing as to introduce all his friends without ceremony into our house at Chaillot, and there entertain them at our expense.  His magnificent uniforms were procured of my tailor and charged to me, and he even contrived to make Manon and me responsible for all his debts.  I pretended to be blind to this system of tyranny, rather than annoy Manon, and even to take no notice of the sums of money which from time to time he received from her.  No doubt, as he played very deep, he was honest enough to repay her a part sometimes, when luck turned in his favour; but our finances were utterly inadequate to supply, for any length of time, demands of such magnitude and frequency.

“I was on the point of coming to an understanding with him, in order to put an end to the system, when an unfortunate accident saved me that trouble, by involving us in inextricable ruin.