Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/136

140 diligent inquiry had he been able, he said, to ascertain her fate and my own; and he had presented himself at the Hôpital two or three times without being able to obtain permission to speak to her.

"Dearly will I make that villain G M pay for this!" exclaimed I.

"As to setting you free," continued Lescaut, "that is a more difficult undertaking than you imagine. Two of my friends and I spent last evening examining the exterior of this establishment in every part, and we came to the conclusion that, your windows opening, as you mentioned in your letter, on a court-yard surrounded by buildings, it would be no easy task to get you out. You are, moreover, on the third story; and it would be quite impossible for us to smuggle either ropes or ladders in here. Nothing, therefore, can be accomplished from the outside, as far as I can see; and we must hit upon some scheme that can be carried into effect in the house itself."

"No," I replied; "I have considered everything, especially since the strictness of my confinement has been somewhat relaxed by the indulgence of the Superior. The door of my room is no longer kept locked, and I am at liberty to walk about the galleries used by the priests. All the stairways are cut off, however, by heavy doors which are kept carefully closed day and night, so that it is impossible for me to effect my escape by the exercise of ingenuity alone. But wait," I added, after thinking for a moment over an idea which struck me as an excellent one; "could you bring me a pistol?"

"Certainly," replied Lescaut, "but do you mean to commit murder?"

I assured him that I had so little intention of killing any one that the pistol need not even be loaded." Bring it to me to-morrow," I continued, "and do not fail to be