Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/125

Rh shame I should feel in making it. Finally, he promised to go at once to the Lieutenant-General of Police, "were it only," he added, "to prevent some worse proceeding on the part of M. de G M, who left here in great displeasure, and who is a man of sufficient influence to be a formidable enemy."

I awaited the Superior's return with all the anxiety of a poor wretch whose sentence is about to be pronounced. It was inexpressible torture for me to think of Manon at the Hôpital. Besides the infamy with which the place was associated in my mind, I was in utter ignorance as to what treatment she was being subjected to there; and the recollection of some details which I had heard concerning that house of horrors threw me every moment into fresh paroxysms of rage. So fully was I resolved to go to her aid, at whatever cost and by whatever means—that I would have set fire to St. Lazare, had it been impossible for me to escape in any other way.

I began to consider, therefore, what course there remained for me to adopt, in case the Lieutenant-General should continue to keep me a prisoner there in spite of myself. I taxed my ingenuity to the utmost, and ran over every imaginable possibility in my mind. I could hit upon nothing that held out a certain prospect of escape; and I was afraid that an unsuccessful attempt would only result in my being put under stricter surveillance than ever. I thought of several friends from whom I might hope for aid; but how was I to let them know of my situation?

At last I worked out a plan which seemed to me ingenious enough to have a fair chance of success. Its still further elaboration I postponed until after the return of the Father Superior, in case his errand should have failed and the necessity for it should consequently still exist.