heart.

"'Our intention of espousal was forgotten at St. Denis,'" Soloviev was
reading, bending his tousled, golden-haired head, illuminated by the
shade of the lamp, low over the book; "'we transgressed against the
laws of the church and, without thinking of it, became espoused.'"

"What are they at? Of their own will, that is? Without a priest? Just
so?" asked Liubka in uneasiness, tearing herself away from her
artificial flowers.

"Of course. And what of it? Free love, and that's all there is to it.
Like you and Lichonin, now."

"Oh, me! That's an entirely different matter. You know yourself where
he took me from. But she's an innocent and genteel young lady. That's a
low-down thing for him to do. And, believe me, Soloviev, he's sure to
leave her later. Ah, the poor girl. Well, well, well, read on."

But already after several pages all the sympathies and commiserations
of Liubka went over to the side of the deceived chevalier.

"'However, the visits and departures by thefts of M. de B. threw me
into confusion. I also recollected the little purchases of Manon, which
exceeded our means. All this smacked of the generosity of a new lover.
"But no, no," I repeated, "it is impossible that Manon should deceive
me! She is aware, that I live only for her, she is exceedingly well
aware that I adore her."'"

"Ah, the little fool, the little fool!" exclaimed Liubka. "Why, can't
you see right off that she's being kept by this rich man. Ah, trash
that she is!"

And the further the novel unfolded, the more passionate and lively an
interest did Liubka take in it. She had nothing against Manon's
fleecing her subsequent patrons with the help of her lover and her
brother, while de Grieux occupied himself with sharping at the club;
but her every new betrayal brought Liubka into a rage, while the
sufferings of the gallant chevalier evoked her tears. Once she asked:

"Soloviev, dearie, who was he--this author?"

"He was a certain French priest."

"He wasn't a Russian?"

"No, a Frenchman, I'm telling you. See, he's got everything so--the
towns are French and the people have French names."

"Then he was a priest, you say? Where did he know all this from, then?"

"Well, he knew it, that's all. Because he was an ordinary man of the
world, a nobleman, and only became a monk afterwards. He had seen a lot
in his life. Then he again left the monks. But, however, here's
everything about him written in detail in front of this book