“He told me, that having gone to pay me a visit at St. Lazare, the day after my escape, he had been astonished beyond expression at hearing the mode in which I had effected it; that he had afterwards a conversation with the Superior; that the good Father had not quite recovered the shock; that he had, however, the generosity to conceal the real circumstances from the lieutenant-general of police, and that he had prevented the death of the porter from becoming known outside the walls; that I had, therefore, upon that score, no ground for alarm, but that, if I retained one grain of prudence, I should profit by this happy turn which Providence had given to my affairs, and begin by writing to my father, and reconciling myself to his favour; and finally that, if I would be guided by his advice, I should at once quit Paris, and return to the bosom of my family.

“I listened to him attentively till he had finished.  There was much in what he said to gratify me.  In the first place, I was delighted to learn that I had nothing to fear on account of St. Lazare—­the streets of Paris at least were again open to me.  Then I rejoiced to find that Tiberge had no suspicion of Manon’s escape, and her return to my arms.  I even remarked that he had not mentioned her name, probably from the idea that, by my seeming indifference to her, she had become less dear to my heart.  I resolved, if not to return home, at least to write to my father, as he advised me, and to assure him that I was disposed to return to my duty, and consult his wishes.  My intention was to urge him to send me money for the purpose of pursuing my ordinary studies at the University, for I should have found it difficult to persuade him that I had any inclination to resume my ecclesiastical habit.  I was in truth not at all averse to what I was now going to promise him.  On the contrary, I was ready to apply myself to some creditable and rational pursuit, so far as the occupation would be compatible with my love.  I reckoned upon being able to live with my mistress, and at the same time continuing my studies.  I saw no inconsistency in this plan.

“These thoughts were so satisfactory to my mind, that I promised Tiberge to dispatch a letter by that day’s post to my father:  in fact, on leaving him, I went into a scrivener’s, and wrote in such a submissive and dutiful tone, that, on reading over my own letter, I anticipated the triumph I was going to achieve over my father’s heart.

“Although I had money enough to pay for a hackney-coach after my interview with Tiberge, I felt a pleasure in walking independently through the streets to M. de T——­’s house.  There was great comfort in this unaccustomed exercise of my liberty, as to which my friend had assured me I had nothing now to apprehend.  However, it suddenly occurred to me, that he had been only referring to St. Lazare, and that I had the other affair of the Hospital on my hands; being implicated, if not as an