“`Take care,’ exclaimed I, `how you lay a finger upon her!—­ neither divine nor human law will be able, should your folly arouse it, to shield you from my vengeance!’

“He quitted the room, desiring the archers to make us dress as quickly as possible.

“I know not what were his intentions at that moment with regard to us; we might perhaps have regained our liberty if we had told him where his son was.  As I dressed, I considered whether this would not be the wisest course.  But if, on quitting the room, such had been the disposition of his mind, it was very different when he returned.  He had first gone to question Manon’s servants, who were in the custody of the guard.  From those who had been expressly hired for her service by his son, he could learn nothing; but when he found that Marcel had been previously our servant, he determined to extract some information from him, by means of intimidation, threats, or bribes.

“This lad was faithful, but weak and unsophisticated.  The remembrance of what he had done at the penitentiary for Manon’s release, joined to the terror with which G——­ M——­ now inspired him, so subdued his mind, that he thought they were about leading him to the gallows, or the rack.  He promised that, if they would spare his life, he would disclose everything he knew.  This speech made G——­ M——­ imagine that there was something more serious in the affair than he had before supposed; he not only gave Marcel a promise of his life, but a handsome reward in hand for his intended confession.

“The booby then told him the leading features of our plot, of which we had made no secret before him, as he was himself to have borne a part in it.  True, he knew nothing of the alterations we had made at Paris in our original design; but he had been informed, before quitting Chaillot, of our projected adventure, and of the part he was to perform.  He therefore told him that the object was to make a dupe of his son; and that Manon was to receive, if she had not already received, ten thousand francs, which, according to our project, would be effectually lost to G——­ M——­, his heirs and assigns for ever.

“Having acquired this information, the old gentleman hastened back in a rage to the apartment.  Without uttering a word, he passed into the boudoir, where he easily put his hand upon the money and the jewels.  He then accosted us, bursting with rage; and holding up what he was pleased to call our plunder, he loaded us with the most indignant reproaches.  He placed close to Manon’s eye the pearl necklace and bracelets. `Do you recognise them?’ said he, in a tone of mockery; ’it is not, perhaps, the first time you may have seen them.  The identical pearls, by my faith!  They were selected by your own exquisite taste!  The poor innocents!’ added he; `they really are most amiable creatures, both one and the other; but they are perhaps a little too much inclined to roguery.’