Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/152

156 I expressed my fear that she might be recognized in passing through the corridors and yards, and he admitted that there was some danger of that mishap occurring; but, he urged, we must of course be prepared to run a certain amount of risk.

Although I was delighted to find him so full of determination, I thought it only prudent to call M. de T and communicate the project to him, indicating, at the same time, the only element in it which seemed at all likely to render its success doubtful. He saw greater difficulties in the way of its accomplishment than had occurred to me. He did not, indeed, deny that Manon might succeed in effecting her escape in the manner suggested; "but," he went on to say, "should she be recognized and arrested, while making good her flight, there would probably be no further hope for her. Moreover, you would have to leave Paris at once; for you could never hide yourself so effectually as to be out of reach of the search that would be made for you. The efforts of the authorities would be redoubled, both in your case and hers. A man by himself can easily elude pursuit, but to remain in concealment with a pretty woman is next door to impossible."

Sound as this reasoning appeared to me, it failed to turn the scale in my mind against the hope of so speedily restoring Manon to liberty. I acknowledged this to M. de T, and begged him to make some allowances for the imprudence and temerity natural to love; and I added that I had already determined to leave Paris and reside in some neighboring village, as I had done once before.

We accordingly arranged with the turnkey that his attempt should be deferred no longer than the following day; and in order to do all in our power to insure its success, we decided to bring with us some articles of male apparel,