Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/168

172 have condescended to run away with a turnkey. He had merely remarked, indifferently, that he was not surprised at it, as people would do anything for the sake of liberty.

M. de T went on to relate that he had then gone to Lescaut's lodgings, in the hope of finding me there with my charming mistress. The landlord of the house, who was a coach-builder, declaimed that he had seen nothing of either Manon or myself, adding that if we had been looking for Lescaut it was no wonder we had not been to his house, as we must doubtless have heard of his having been murdered at about the very time in question; whereupon he had willingly proceeded to give all the particulars he knew regarding the cause and circumstances of Lescaut's death.

It seemed that, about two hours earlier in the evening, one of Lescaut's friends—a Guardsman—had gone to see him, and had proposed a game of cards. Lescaut had won so rapidly that within an hour the other had parted with a hundred crowns—in other words, with all the money he possessed. The unfortunate fellow, finding himself penniless, had begged Lescaut to lend him half the sum which he had lost. This had given rise to some dispute, the upshot of which was a violent quarrel between them. Lescaut