Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/239

Rh imprisoned in the Châtelet than at Saint-Lazare. Moreover, though I still retained all due respect for the paternal authority, increased age and experience had greatly diminished my former timidity. In short, the letter was written, and the authorities of the Châtelet raised no objection to my sending it. I might have spared myself the pains, however; for, had I but known it, my father was to be in Paris the very next day.

He had received the letter which I had written him a week before, and had been overjoyed at its contents. But, in spite of the hopes which I had encouraged him to indulge regarding my reformation, he had not thought it wise to rely entirely upon my promises, and had decided to come and assure himself of my conversion by the evidence of his own eyes, and to be governed in his subsequent course by the degree of sincerity I showed in my repentance. He arrived in Paris the day after my arrest. He first went to see Tiberge, to whose care I had asked him to address his reply. My friend was unable to give him any information as to my present whereabouts or occupation, and all that he could gather from him was a general outline of my principal adventures since my flight from Saint Sulpice. Tiberge spoke very encouragingly, however, of the disposition I had shown during our last interview, to reform my way of life. He added that he believed me to have finally separated from Manon, but expressed his surprise at my not having given him any news of myself for a week past.

My father was not a man to be easily duped. He surmised that this silence of which Tiberge complained had something behind it which that simple soul had not penetration enough to discover, and he made such diligent efforts to trace me, that before two days had passed he had found out that I was a prisoner in the Châtelet.