open the heavy gate, one of the servants,
who slept in an adjoining room, hearing the noise of the bolts, jumped
out of bed, and peeped forth to see what was passing. The good Father
apparently thought him strong enough to overpower me. He commanded
him, most imprudently, to come to his assistance. He was a powerful
ruffian, and threw himself upon me without an instant's hesitation.
There was no time for parleying--I levelled my pistol and lodged the
contents in his breast! 'See, Father, of what mischief you have been
the cause,' said I to my guide; 'but that must not prevent us from
finishing our work,' I added, pushing him on towards the last door. He
did not dare refuse to open it. I made my exit in perfect safety, and,
a few paces off, found Lescaut with two friends waiting for me,
according to his promise.

"We removed at once to a distance. Lescaut enquired whether he had not
heard the report of a pistol? 'You are to blame,' said I, 'why did you
bring it charged?' I, however, could not help thanking him for having
taken this precaution, without which I doubtless must have continued
much longer at St. Lazare. We went to pass the night at a tavern,
where I made up, in some degree, for the miserable fare which had been
doled out to me for nearly three months. I was very far, however, from
tasting perfect enjoyment; Manon's sufferings were mine. 'She must be
released,' said I to my companions: 'this was my sole object in
desiring my own liberty. I rely on your aiding me with all your
ingenuity; as for myself, my life shall be devoted to the purpose.'

"Lescaut, who was not deficient in tact, and still less in that better
part of valour called discretion, dwelt upon the necessity of acting
with extreme caution: he said that my escape from St. Lazare, and the
accident that happened on my leaving it, would assuredly create a
sensation; that the lieutenant-general of police would cause a strict
search to be made for me, and it would be difficult to evade him; in
fine, that, unless disposed to encounter something worse, perhaps, than
St. Lazare, it would be requisite for me to remain concealed for a few
days, in order to give the enemy's zeal time to cool. No doubt this
was wise counsel; but, one should have been wise oneself to have
followed it. Such calculating slowness little suited my passion. The
utmost I could bring myself to promise was, that I would sleep through
the whole of the next day. He lock