THE STORY OF MANON LESCAUT.
85
partialities of fortune, was a perilous business. There was, he admitted, a third alternative—that of joining the Fraternity; but I was so young that he feared the honorable body of Confederates would not consider me as yet possessed of the requisite qualifications for membership of the League.
He promised me, however, to use his good offices with them on my behalf, and—with a generosity of which I did not think him capable—offered to let me have some money, should I find myself in pressing need of it. The only favor I asked of him for the time being was to tell Manon nothing about my loss, nor about the subject of our conversation.
