“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 revolving different thoughts in his mind; and as if they had suddenly excited his anger, he exclaimed, addressing himself to me:  `Wretch!  I am confident that you have murdered my son!’

“I felt indignant at so insulting a charge. `You hoary and lecherous villain!’ I exclaimed, `if I had been inclined to kill any of your worthless family, it is with you I should most assuredly have commenced.’

“`Hold him fast,’ cried he to the archers; `he must give me some tidings of my son; I shall have him hanged tomorrow, if he does not presently let me know how he has disposed of him.’

“`You will have me hanged,’ said I, `will you?  Infamous scoundrel! it is for such as you that the gibbet is erected.  Know that the blood which flows in my veins is noble, and purer in every sense than yours.  Yes,’ I added, `I do know what has happened to your son; and if you irritate me further, I will have him strangled before morning; and I promise you the consolation of meeting in your own person the same fate, after he is disposed of.’

“I was imprudent in acknowledging that I knew where his son was, but excess of anger made me commit this indiscretion.  He immediately called in five or six other archers, who were waiting at the gate, and ordered them to take all the servants into custody. `Ah! ah!  Chevalier,’ said he, in a tone of sardonic raillery,—­`so you do know where my son is, and you will have him strangled, you say?  We will try to set that matter to rights.’

“I now saw the folly I had committed.

“He approached Manon, who was sitting upon the bed, bathed in a flood of tears.  He said something, with the most cruel irony, of the despotic power she wielded over old and young, father and son—­ her edifying dominion over her empire.  This superannuated monster of incontinence actually attempted to take liberties with her.