gentleman's advanced age, he was
extremely active and ardent. He first enquired of the servant what his
son had been doing that afternoon; whether he had had any quarrel on
his own account, or interfered in any other; whether he had been in any
suspicious house. The lackey, who fancied his master in imminent
danger, and thought he ought not to have any reserve in such an
emergency, disclosed at once all that he knew of his connection with
Manon, and of the expense he had gone to on her account; the manner in
which he had passed the afternoon with her until about nine o'clock,
the circumstance of his leaving her, and the outrage he encountered on
his return. This was enough to convince him that his son's affair was a
love quarrel. Although it was then at least half-past ten at night, he
determined at once to call on the lieutenant of police. He begged of
him to issue immediate orders to all the detachments that were out on
duty, and he himself, taking some men with him, hastened to the street
where his son had been stopped: he visited every place where he thought
he might have a chance of finding him; and not being able to discover
the slightest trace of him, he went off to the house of his mistress,
to which he thought he probably might by this time have returned.

"I was stepping into bed when he arrived. The door of the chamber
being closed, I did not hear the knock at the gate, but he rushed into
the house, accompanied by two archers of the guard, and after fruitless
enquiries of the servants about his son, he resolved to try whether he
could get any information from their mistress. He came up to the
apartment, still accompanied by the guard. We were just on the point
of lying down when he burst open the door, and electrified us by his
appearance. 'Heavens!' said I to Manon, 'it is old G---- M----.' I
attempted to get possession of my sword; but it was fortunately
entangled in my belt. The archers, who saw my object, advanced to lay
hold of me. Stript to my shirt, I could, of course, offer no
resistance, and they speedily deprived me of all means of defence.

"G---- M----, although a good deal embarrassed by the whole scene, soon
recognised me; and Manon still more easily. 'Is this a dream?' said
he, in the most serious tone--'do I not see before me the Chevalier des
Grieux and Manon Lescaut?' I was so overcome with shame and
disappointment, that I could make him no reply. He appeared for some
minutes