Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier Des Grieux.djvu/26

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THE STORY OF MANON LESCAUT.
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young man I had met at Passy. He was very poorly clad, and much paler than when I had first seen him. He was carrying an old portmanteau under one arm, and had evidently only just arrived in the town. His was too handsome a face to be easily forgotten, however, and .1 knew him again immediately.

  • " I cannot let that young man pass without speaking to

him," I said to the marquis. He was overjoyed when he, in turn, recognized me. " Ah ! sir," he exclaimed, kissing my hand, " I am in- deed glad to have an opportunity of assuring you once again of my undying gratitude ! " I asked him whence he had come. He replied that he ^ had just arrived, by sea, from Havre-de-Qrace, whither * he had returned from America only a shoil} time since.

    • From your appearance I fear that you are not very

well off for money," said I ; "if you will walk on to the Golden Lion, where I am lodging, I will be with you in a few minutes." I soon returned, in fact, full of impatience to learn the details of his misfoi'tunes and all the particulars of his voyage to America. I embraced him cordially, and gave orders that he should be allowed to want for nothing. He did not wait to be urged to relate the story of his life.