Thus did I run on, now in a strain of sadness, now of indignation, as each of the various passions that were contending in my breast in turn subsided or gained the upper hand. Gradually, however, my self-tormentings had the effect of calming the tumult of my feelings sufficiently to allow of my making some reflections.
I compared this last misfortune with the others of the same kind which I had already endured, and I saw no more reason to despair in this than in the former cases. Understanding Manon's character as I did, why should I allow myself to be overwhelmed by a trial which I ought
to have foreseen and guarded against? Why not rather set about discovering some way of remedying it? It was not yet too late. At all events, I felt that I must spare no pains in the task, unless I wished to have myself to reproach for contributing to my own unhappiness by my negligence. I began at once, therefore, to consider every expedient that seemed to hold out the least ray of hope.
To attempt to wrest her forcibly from the clutches of G——— M——— would be a desperate undertaking, likely to result only in my ruin, and presenting absolutely no prospect of success. But I was convinced that if I could find some way of speaking to her, if only for a few short
