Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/263

Rh six of them. Five bold and resolute men were enough to strike terror into the hearts of these miserable hirelings, who are utterly incapable of defending themselves gallantly when their cowardice can find a way of shirking the dangers of combat.

As I was plentifully supplied with money, my friend the Guardsman advised me to grudge nothing that might help to insure the success of our attack.

"We must have horses," said he, "and pistols, as well as a carbine for each of us. I will make it my business to attend to all these preparations to-morrow. Three suits of civilians' clothes will be necessary, too, for our soldiers, who would not dare, in an affair of this sort, to appear in the uniform of their regiment."

I entrusted him with the hundred pistoles which I had obtained from M. de T, and they were spent the next day, to the last farthing. The three soldiers were brought up for my inspection. I fired their zeal by liberal promises of reward, and, in order to gain their complete confidence, I began by making each of them a present of ten pistoles.

The day having arrived for the execution of my project, I despatched one of the soldiers to the Hôpital at an early