tion the following day, and to render our success as certain as he
could, we resolved to carry into the prison men's clothes, in order to
facilitate her escape."

There was a difficulty to be surmounted in carrying them in, but I had
ingenuity enough to meet it. I begged of M. de T---- only to put on
two light waistcoats the next morning, and I undertook to arrange the
rest.

We returned the following day to the Hospital. I took with me linen,
stockings, etc., for Manon, and over my body-coat a surtout, which
concealed the bulk I carried in my pockets. We remained but a moment
in her room. M. de T---- left her one of his waistcoats; I gave her my
short coat, the surtout being sufficient for me. She found nothing
wanting for her complete equipment but a pair of pantaloons, which in
my hurry I had forgotten.

"The want of so necessary an article might have amused us, if the
embarrassment it caused had been of a less serious kind. I was in
despair at having our whole scheme foiled by a trifling omission of
this nature. However, I soon hit on a remedy, and determined to make
my own exit sans-culotte, leaving that portion of my dress with Manon.
My surtout was long, and I contrived by the help of a few pins to put
myself in a decent condition for passing the gate.

"The remainder of the day appeared to me of endless length. When at
last night came, we went in a coach to within a few yards of the
Hospital. We were not long waiting, when we saw Manon make her
appearance with her guide. The door of the coach being opened, they
both stepped in without delay. I opened my arms to receive my adored
mistress; she trembled like an aspen leaf. The coachman asked where he
was to drive? 'To the end of the world!' I exclaimed; 'to some place
where I can never again be separated from Manon.'

"This burst, which I could not control, was near bringing me into fresh
trouble. The coachman reflected upon what I said, and when I
afterwards told him the name of the street to which I wished him to
drive, he answered that he feared I was about to implicate him in some
bad business; that he saw plainly enough that the good-looking young
man whom I called Manon was a girl eloping from the Hospital, and that
he was little disposed indeed to ruin himself for love of me.

"Extortion was the source of this scoundrel's delicacy. We were still
too near the Hospital to make any noise. 'Silence!' said I to him,
'you shall have a louis