Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/135

Rh periencing only too profoundly the truth of that doctrine of theirs."

This conversation served, at all events, to revive my friend's compassion for me. He perceived that my laxity of morals was the outcome of weakness rather than of depravity, and this made him more willing in after days to render me assistance without which I should inevitably have perished in misery.

I did not, however, give him the least inkling of my design of escaping from St. Lazare. I merely asked him to undertake the delivery of my letter. I had prepared it before he came, and found no lack of pretexts to lend color to my necessity for writing. He faithfully carried it to its address, and before the close of the day Lescaut received the one intended for him.

He came on the following day to see me, and was successful in passing himself off as my brother. My joy knew no bounds when I saw him enter my room. Carefully closing the door, I said to him: "Do not let us waste a moment. First give me some news of Manon, and then let me have your best advice as to how to shake off my fetters."

He assured me that he had not seen his sister since the day before my imprisonment. Only by dint of the most