L'Abbé Prévost

“ That would be to lose my love forever, and what do I dread more than losing her? Nay! let me endure the worst that is to come, in the defence of my mistress, and think of dying only when I have endured that worst in vain!"
I made my way back to the town. On reaching home I found Manon half dead with terror and anxiety. My presence reassured her; but it was impossible for me to conceal from her the terrible incident which had just occurred. She fainted in my arms on hearing of Synnelet's death and of the wound I had received. ”

“ I was found, in an apparently lifeless condition, upon Manon's grave; and the men who discovered me in this plight, seeing me stripped of nearly all my clothes, and bleeding from my wound, came to the conclusion that I had been robbed and assassinated. They carried me into the town. The motion restored me to consciousness. I opened my eyes, only to bemoan the fact that I was still among the living; and the sighs to which I gave utterance showed them that I was not yet beyond the reach of medical aid. ”

“ Manon, concern for Manon's welfare, her imminent peril, and the prospect of being separated from her forever, agitated me so unspeakably that a film overspread my eyes and shut out all surrounding objects, until I scarcely knew where I was standing. I envied Synnelet his fate; for a speedy death seemed the only refuge I could hope to find from my woes. ”

“ We walked on until Manon's strength gave way, in spite of the fortitude and resolution by which she was sustained. We had then travelled a distance of about two leagues. In her matchless devotion she had steadily refused to stop any sooner, but at last, overcome with fatigue, she acknowledged that she could go no further. Night had already overtaken us when we threw ourselves upon the ground, in the midst of a vast plain, where not even a tree was to be seen under which to shelter ourselves. ”

“ Taking him to my house I bade him consider himself master of all I possessed. I related the various adventures which had befallen me since my departure from France, and, in order to gladden him with news which he was far from expecting, I told him earnestly that the seeds of virtue which he had long ago implanted in my heart, were beginning to bear fruit which would satisfy even him. He declared that this welcome assurance amply compensated him for all the hardships of his voyage.
We spent two months together at New Orleans, awaiting the arrival of a vessel from France. ”

“ Weak as she was, Manon rose and, taking me by the hand, led me to the door.
"Let us flee together!" said she: "We have not a moment to lose! If Synnelet's body should chance to be found, there would not be time for us to make good our escape."
"But, dearest Manon," I asked in dismay, "where can we go? Do you know of any place of refuge? ”

“ I lent warmth to her hands by my glowing kisses and my fervent sighs. I passed the whole night long in watching over her, and praying Heaven to grant her sweet and untroubled slumbers. God knows how heartfelt and earnest were my supplications. Why they were so pitilessly rejected, He alone can tell. ”

“ Manon, he said, was at his disposal, and he had given his word to his nephew.
I was determined to keep my feelings under control to the very last, and merely said quietly that I had thought him too much my friend to desire my death, to which I would far rather submit than to the loss of my mistress.
I took my leave under the sad conviction that I had nothing to hope for from this stubborn old man, who would have risked his soul a hundred times over to please his nephew. However, I persevered in my intention of acting with self-restraint to the end ”

“ In order to reach their colonies we should have to traverse barren plains of several days' journey in extent, and mountains so high and rugged that even the strongest and hardiest men found them well-nigh impassable. ”