Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/255

Rh need of money, M. de T drew out his purse and handed it to me, saying as he did so:

"There is a thousand francs, which may be of some assistance to you. You can repay me when your fortunes mend. Were it not that the regard which I am forced to have for my reputation forbids my taking part in the rescue of your mistress, you may be sure that I would gladly draw my sword in your service."

This unbounded generosity moved me almost to the verge of tears, and I thanked him with all the fervor which my affliction had left me capable of expressing.

"Would it be quite hopeless," I then asked him, "to intercede with the Lieuteuant-General of Police?"

"I have thought of that," he replied; "but I fear that it would be of no avail. A favor of this kind can only be asked on very good grounds, and I do not quite see what pretext you could allege in your case for petitioning so exalted and powerful an official. The only chance of accomplishing anything in that quarter would be by winning G M and your father over to your views and persuading them to go to the Lieutenant-General and request him themselves to revoke his sentence.

"I promise you," concluded M. de T, "to do my best to gain young G M over to your interests, although I imagine that he has grown a little cool towards me, in consequence of some suspicions which he has conceived regarding my share in our recent plot against him. And let me urge you to leave nothing undone, on your side, to soften your father's feelings."

This was no light undertaking for me; in saying which I allude not only to the difficulty which I should have experienced in overcoming his opposition in any case, but to another circumstance, which made me even dread to go near him. I had, in short, stolen away from his lodgings