Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/225

Rh his way back to Manon. I instructed the Guardsman to do him no harm, but to keep him so closely confined until seven o'clock the next morning that I might be under no apprehension of his making his escape.

"My plan," said the officer, "is to take him to my own room, compel him to strip himself, and, perhaps, to sleep in my bed, while these three brave fellows and myself spend the night over a bottle and a pack of cards."

I remained with them until I saw G M approaching, and then withdrew into a dark recess a little further down the street, whence I could be a witness of the strange scene which was about to be enacted.

The Guardsman accosted him, pistol in hand, and gave him civilly to understand that he had no designs upon either his money or his life; but that unless he followed him without making the slightest difficulty or raising the faintest alarm, he would blow out his brains. G M seeing him backed up by three soldiers, and having, doubtless, a wholesome fear of the contents of the pistol, offered no resistance, and I saw him led away like a lamb.

I then hastened back to Manon; and, in order to prevent any suspicion on the part of the servants, I said to her as I entered the room that supper need not be kept waiting