“The only servant we had came to me one day, with great embarrassment, and taking me aside, told me that he had a secret of the utmost importance to communicate to me.  I urged him to explain himself without reserve.  After some hesitation, he gave me to understand that a foreigner of high rank had apparently fallen in love with Manon.  I felt my blood boil at the announcement. `Has she shown any penchant for him?’ I enquired, interrupting my informant with more impatience than was requisite, if I desired to have a full explanation.

“He was alarmed at my excitement; and replied in an undecided tone, that he had not made sufficiently minute observation to satisfy me; but that, having noticed for several days together the regular arrival of the stranger at the Bois de Boulogne, where, quitting his carriage, he walked by himself in the cross-avenues, appearing to seek opportunities of meeting Manon, it had occurred to him to form an acquaintance with the servants, in order to discover the name of their master; that they spoke of him as an Italian prince, and that they also suspected he was upon some adventure of gallantry.  He had not been able to learn anything further, he added, trembling as he spoke, because the prince, then on the point of leaving the wood, had approached him, and with the most condescending familiarity asked his name; upon which, as if he at once knew that he was in our service, he congratulated him on having, for his mistress, the most enchanting person upon earth.

“I listened to this recital with the greatest impatience.  He ended with the most awkward excuses, which I attributed to the premature and imprudent display of my own agitation.  In vain I implored him to continue his history.  He protested that he knew nothing more, and that what he had previously told me, having only happened the preceding day, he had not had a second opportunity of seeing the prince’s servants.  I encouraged him, not only with praises, but with a substantial recompense; and without betraying the slightest distrust of Manon, I requested him, in the mildest manner, to keep strict watch upon all the foreigner’s movements.

“In truth, the effect of his fright was to leave me in a state of the cruellest suspense.  It was possible that she had ordered him to suppress part of the truth.  However, after a little reflection, I recovered sufficiently from my fears to see the manner in which I had exposed my weaknesses.  I could hardly consider it a crime in Manon to be loved.  Judging from appearances, it was probable that she was not even aware of her conquest. `And what kind of life shall I in future lead,’ thought I, `if I am capable of letting jealousy so easily take possession of my mind?’