to his ruin, and which it is as impossible for virtue itself to resist, as for human wisdom to foresee.  I painted to him in the most vivid colours, my excitement, my fears, the state of despair in which I had been two hours before I saw him, and into which I should be again plunged, if I found my friends as relentless as fate had been.  I at length made such an impression upon poor Tiberge, that I saw he was as much affected by compassion, as I by the recollection of my sufferings.

“He took my hand, and exhorted me to have courage and be comforted; but, as he seemed to consider it settled that Manon and I were to separate, I gave him at once to understand that it was that very separation I considered as the most intolerable of all my misfortunes; and that I was ready to endure not only the last degree of misery, but death itself, of the cruellest kind, rather than seek relief in a remedy worse than the whole accumulation of my woes.

“`Explain yourself, then,’ said he to me; `what assistance can I afford you, if you reject everything I propose?’ I had not courage to tell him that it was from his purse I wanted relief.  He, however, comprehended it in the end; and acknowledging that he believed he now understood me, he remained for a moment in an attitude of thought, with the air of a person revolving something in his mind. `Do not imagine,’ he presently said, `that my hesitation arises from any diminution of my zeal and friendship; but to what an alternative do you now reduce me, since I must either refuse you the assistance you ask, or violate my most sacred duty in affording it!  For is it not participating in your sin to furnish you with the means of continuing its indulgence?’

“`However,’ continued he, after a moment’s thought, `it is perhaps the excited state into which want has thrown you, that denies you now the liberty of choosing the proper path.  Man’s mind must be at rest, to know the luxury of wisdom and virtue.  I can afford to let you have some money; and permit me, my dear chevalier, to impose but one condition; that is, that you let me know the place of your abode, and allow me the opportunity of using my exertions to reclaim you.  I know that there is in your heart a love of virtue, and that you have been only led astray by the violence of your passions.’

“I, of course, agreed to everything he asked, and only begged of him to deplore the malign destiny which rendered me callous to the counsels of so virtuous a friend.  He then took me to a banker of his acquaintance, who gave one hundred and seventy crowns for his note of hand, which was taken as cash.  I have already said that he was not rich.  His living was worth about six thousand francs a year, but as this was the first year since his induction, he had as yet touched none of the receipts, and it was out of the future income that he made me this advance.

“I felt the full force of his generosity, even to such a degree as almost to deplore the fatal passion which thus led me to break through all the restraints of duty.  Virtue had for a moment the ascendancy in my heart, and made me sensible of my shame and degradation.  But this was soon over.  For Manon I could have given up my hopes of heaven, and when I again found myself at her side, I wondered how I could for an instant have considered myself degraded by my passion for this enchanting girl.