I could not entertain a doubt of his zeal and
good faith. I proposed to call upon him at once, and make him send for
G---- M----, under pretence of some important business. Half an hour
would suffice to enable me to see Manon. I thought it would not be
difficult to get introduced into her apartment during G---- M----'s
absence.

"This determination pacified me, and I gave a liberal present to the
girl, who was still with me; and in order to prevent her from returning
to those who had sent her, I took down her address, and half promised
to call upon her at a later hour. I then got into the hackney-coach,
and drove quickly to M. de T----'s. I was fortunate enough to find him
at home. I had been apprehensive upon this point as I went along. A
single sentence put him in possession of the whole case, as well of my
sufferings, as of the friendly service I had come to supplicate at his
hands.

"He was so astonished to learn that G---- M---- had been able to seduce
Manon from me, that, not being aware that I had myself lent a hand to
my own misfortune, he generously offered to assemble his friends, and
evoke their aid for the deliverance of my mistress. I told him that
such a proceeding might by its publicity be attended with danger to
Manon and to me. 'Let us risk our lives,' said I, 'only as a last
resource. My plan is of a more peaceful nature, and promising at least
equal success.' He entered without a murmur into all that I proposed;
so again stating that all I required was, that he should send for G----
M----, and contrive to keep him an hour or two from home, we at once
set about our operations.

"We first of all considered what expedient we could make use of for
keeping him out so long a time. I proposed that he should write a note
dated from a cafe, begging of him to come there as soon as possible
upon an affair of too urgent importance to admit of delay. 'I will
watch,' added I, 'the moment he quits the house, and introduce myself
without any difficulty, being only known to Manon, and my servant
Marcel. You can at the same time tell G---- M----, that the important
affair upon which you wished to see him was the immediate want of a sum
of money; that you had just emptied your purse at play, and that you
had played on, with continued bad luck, upon credit. He will require
some time to take you to his father's house, where he keeps his money,
and I shall have quite sufficient for the execution of my pl