d'or for the job': for less than that he would
have helped me to burn the Hospital.

"We arrived at Lescaut's house. As it was late, M. de T---- left us on
the way, promising to visit us the next morning. The servant alone
remained.

"I held Manon in such close embrace in my arms, that we occupied but
one place in the coach. She cried for joy, and I could feel her tears
trickling down my cheeks.

"When we were about getting out at Lescaut's, I had a new difficulty
with the coachman, which was attended with the most unfortunate
results. I repented of having promised the fellow a louis d'or, not
only because it was extravagant folly, but for another stronger reason,
that it was at the moment out of my power to pay him. I called for
Lescaut, and he came down to the door. I whispered to him the cause of
my present embarrassment. Being naturally rough, and not at all in the
habit of treating hackney-coachmen with respect, he answered that I
could not be serious. 'A louis!' said he; 'twenty blows of a cane
would be the right payment for that rascal!' I entreated him not to
destroy us; when he snatched my cane from my hand, and was about to lay
it on the coachman. The fellow had probably before experienced the
weight of a guardsman's arm, and instantly drove off, crying out, that
I had cheated him, and should hear of him again. I in vain endeavoured
to stop him.

"His flight caused me, of course, the greatest alarm. I had no doubt
that he would immediately give information to the police. 'You have
ruined me,' said I to Lescaut; 'I shall be no longer safe at your
house; we must go hence at once.' I gave Manon my arm, and as quickly
as possible got out of the dangerous neighbourhood. Lescaut
accompanied us."

The Chevalier des Grieux having occupied more than an hour with his
story, I begged him to give himself a little rest, and meanwhile to
share our supper. He saw, by the attention we paid him, that we were
amused, and promised that we should hear something of perhaps greater
interest in the sequel. When we had finished supper, he continued in
the following words.

[1] A favourite tenet of the Mystics, advocated by Madame de Guyon, and
adopted by the amiable and eloquent Fenelon, was, that the love of the
Supreme Being must be pure and disinterested; that is, exempt from all
views of interest, and all hope of reward. See the controversy between
Bossuet and Fenelon.

[2] The first proposition of the