L'Abbé Prévost

“ Our sighs, our broken exclamations, the countless endearing names that fell from her lips and my own, and were repeated again and again with fond reiteration—such, for many minutes, were the elements of a scene which M. de T——— contemplated with unfeigned emotion.
"You fill me with envy," he said, as he offered us seats. "I would resign the most glorious career that Fortune could offer me to possess a mistress as lovely, as passionately devoted as yours." ”

“ I sent for Lescaut, who came down from his room to the door. I told him in a whisper the plight that I was in. Being naturally hot-tempered, and by no means accustomed to waste much consideration upon a coachman, he replied that I must surely be in jest. "A louis d'or, indeed!" he exclaimed. "Trounce the fellow with your cane until he has his money's worth!" ”

“ Although I was delighted to find him so full of determination, I thought it only prudent to call M. de T——— and communicate the project to him, indicating, at the same time, the only element in it which seemed at all likely to render its success doubtful. He saw greater difficulties in the way of its accomplishment than had occurred to me. He did not, indeed, deny that Manon might succeed in effecting her escape in the manner suggested; "but," he went on to say, "should she be recognized and arrested, while making good her flight, there would probably be no further hope for her. ”

“ Moreover, you would have to leave Paris at once; for you could never hide yourself so effectually as to be out of reach of the search that would be made for you. The efforts of the authorities would be redoubled, both in your case and hers. A man by himself can easily elude pursuit, but to remain in concealment with a pretty woman is next door to impossible."
Sound as this reasoning appeared to me, it failed to turn the scale in my mind against the hope of so speedily restoring Manon to liberty. ”

“ His reply was that of a man possessing all the polish of good society, together with a delicacy of feeling which society does not always give, and often destroys. He told me that he counted my visit among the fortunate events of his life—that he should regard my friendship as one of his most valued acquisitions, and would strive to merit it by his zeal in my service. He did not promise to restore Manon to me, as he could boast, he said, of only slight and uncertain influence ”

“ We accordingly arranged with the turnkey that his attempt should be deferred no longer than the following day; and in order to do all in our power to insure its success, we decided to bring with us some articles of male apparel, with a view to facilitating our flight. ”