Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/266

270 desertion: "What is to be done? We are now but two against six!"

I was speechless with rage and amazement. Reining in my horse, I hesitated as to whether my first acts of vengeance should not be the pursuit and chastisement of the treacherous cowards who were thus abandoning me. I gazed after them as they fled, and then glanced in the other direction at the Archers. Had I possessed the power of doubling my own being, I should have fallen simultaneously upon these objects of my fury, and dealt out one common death to them all.

My indecision betrayed itself to the Guardsman by the restless wandering of my eyes, and he begged me to listen to his advice.

"Now that there are only two of us," said he, "it would be madness for us to attack six men, as well armed as ourselves," and who seem prepared to offer a stubborn resistance. There is nothing for it but to return to Paris, and try to be more successful in the choice of our followers. The Archers will not be able to make very rapid progress on their journey, with two heavy carts to retard them; and we shall have no difficulty in overtaking them again to-morrow."

I pondered over this suggestion for a few moments; but I could see nothing but despair confronting me at every turn, and I came to a resolution which no one, in truth, but a desperate man could have formed. This was, to thank my companion for his friendly services, and then, so far from attacking the Archers, to go, instead, and humbly beg them to let me join their party; my object being to accompany Manon as far as Havre-de-Grace with them, and then to cross the ocean with her.

"I meet with persecution or betrayal on every hand," I said to the Guardsman; "there is not a soul whom I can