him after quitting us, and so prejudiced him against
you, that he was on the point of sending me fresh instructions to
subject you to closer confinement.

"'However, when I let him know the truth of your story, he reconsidered
the matter, and, smiling at the incontinence of old G---- M----, he
said it would be necessary to keep you here for six months longer, in
order to pacify him; the less to be lamented,' he added, 'because your
morals would be sure to benefit by your residence here. He desired
that I would show you every kindness and attention, and I need not
assure you that you shall have no reason to complain of your treatment.'

"This speech of the Superior's was long enough to afford me time to
form a prudent resolution. I saw that by betraying too strong an
impatience for my liberty, I should probably be upsetting all my
projects. I acknowledged to him, that, as it was necessary to me to
remain, it was an infinite comfort to know that I possessed a place in
his esteem. I then requested, and with unaffected sincerity, a favour,
which could be of no consequence to others, and which would contribute
much to my peace of mind; it was to inform a friend of mine, a devout
clergyman, who lived at St. Sulpice, that I was at St. Lazare, and to
permit me occasionally to receive his visits.

"This was of course my friend Tiberge; not that I could hope from him
the assistance necessary for effecting my liberty; but I wished to make
him the unconscious instrument of my designs. In a word, this was my
project: I wished to write to Lescaut, and to charge him and our common
friends with the task of my deliverance. The first difficulty was to
have my letter conveyed to him: this should be Tiberge's office.
However, as he knew him to be Manon's brother, I doubted whether he
would take charge of this commission. My plan was to enclose my letter
to Lescaut in another to some respectable man of my acquaintance,
begging of him to transmit the first to its address without delay; and
as it was necessary that I should have personal communication with
Lescaut, in order to arrange our proceedings, I told him to call on me
at St. Lazare, and assume the name of my eldest brother, as if he had
come to Paris expressly to see me. I postponed till our meeting all
mention of the safest and most expeditious course I intended to suggest
for our future conduct. The governor informed Tiberge of my wish to
see him. This ever-faithful frie