Manon Lescaut
pursuit; and I think I have satisfactorily proved, that if there be any
contradiction in that, we shall be both equally obnoxious to the
charge. It was in this light, only, that I could observe no difference
in our cases, and I cannot as yet perceive any.
"'You may probably answer, that the proposed end, the promised reward,
of virtue, is infinitely superior to that of love? No one disputes it,
but that is not the question--we are only discussing the relative aid
they both afford in the endurance of affliction. Judge of that by the
practical effect: are there not multitudes who abandon a life of strict
virtue? how few give up the pursuits of love!
"'Again, you will reply that if there be difficulties in the exercise
of virtue, they are by no means universal and sure; that the good man
does not necessarily meet tyrants and tortures, and that, on the
contrary, a life of virtue is perfectly compatible with repose and
enjoyment. I can say with equal truth, that love is often accompanied
by content and happiness; and what makes another distinction of
infinite advantage to my argument, I may add that love, though it often
deludes, never holds out other than hopes of bliss and joy, whilst
religion exacts from her votaries mortification and sorrow.
"'Do not be alarmed,' said I, perceiving that I had almost offended his
zealous feelings of devotion. 'I only wish to say, that there is no
more unsuccessful method of weaning man's heart from love, than by
endeavouring to decry its enjoyments, and by promising him more
pleasure from the exercise of virtue. It is an inherent principle in
our nature, that our felicity consists only in pleasure. I defy you to
conceive any other notion of it; and it requires little time to arrive
at the conviction, that, of all pleasures, those of love are
immeasurably the most enchanting. A man quickly discerns the delusion,
when he hears the promise made of livelier enjoyment, and the effect of
such misrepresentation is only to make him doubt the truth of a more
solid promise.
"'Let the preacher who seeks the reformation of a sinner tell me that
virtue is indispensably necessary, but not disguise its difficulty and
its attendant denials. Say that the enjoyments of love are fleeting,
if you will, that they are rigidly forbidden, that they lead with
certainty to eternal suffering; and, what would assuredly make a deeper
impression upon me than any other argument, say that the more sweet and
delectable they are, the brighter will be the reward of Heaven for
giving them up in sacrifice; but do in the name of justice admit, that,
constituted as the heart of man is, they form here, on earth, our most
perfect happiness.'
"My last sentence restored to Tiberge his good humour. He allowed that
my ideas were not altogether so unreasonable. The only point he made,
was in asking me why I did not carry my own principle into operation,
by sacrificing my passion to the hope of that remuneration of which I
had drawn so brilliant a picture. 'Oh! my dear friend,' replied I;
'that it is which makes me conscious of my own misery and weakness:
true, alas! it is indeed my duty to act according to my argument; but
have I the power of governing my own actions? What aid will enable me
to forget Manon's charms?' 'God forgive me,' said Tiberge, 'I can
almost fancy you a Jansenist[2]. 'I know not of what sect I am,'
replied I, 'nor do I indeed very clearly see to which I ought to
belong; but I cannot help feeling the truth of this at least of their
tenets.'
"One effect of our conversation was to revive my friend's pity for me
in all its force. He perceived that there was in my errors more of
weakness than of vice; and he was the more disposed in the end to give
me assistance; without which I should infallibly have perished from
distress of mind. However, I carefully concealed from him my intention
of escaping from St. Lazare. I merely begged of him to take charge of
my letter; I had it ready before he came, and I soon found an excuse
for the necessity of writing. He faithfully transmitted it, and
Lescaut received before evening the one I had enclosed for him.
"He came to see me next morning, and fortunately was admitted under my
brother's name. I was overjoyed at finding him in my room. I
carefully closed the door. 'Let us lose no time,' I said. 'First tell
me about Manon, and then advise me how I am to shake off these
fetters.' He assured me that he had not seen his sister since the day
before my arrest, and that it was only by repeated enquiries, and after
much trouble, that he had at length been able to discover her fate as
well as mine; and that he had two or three times presented himself at
the Magdalen, and been refused admittance. 'Wretch!' muttered I to
myself, 'dearly shall G---- M---- pay for this!'
"'As to your escape,' continued Lescaut, 'it will not be so easy as you
imagine. Last evening, I and a couple of friends walked round this
establishment to reconnoitre it; and we agreed that, as your windows
looked into a court surrounded by buildings, as you yourself mentioned
in your letter, there would be vast difficulty in getting you out.
Besides, you are on the third story, and it would be impossible to
introduce ropes or ladders through the window. I therefore see no
means from without--in the house itself we must hit upon some scheme.'
"'No,' replied I; 'I have examined everything minutely, particularly
since, through the governor's indulgence, my confinement has been less
rigorous. I am no longer locked into my room; I have liberty to walk
in the gallery; but there is, upon every landing, a strong door kept
closed night and day, so that it is impossible that ingenuity alone,
unaided by some violent efforts, can rescue me.
"'Wait,' said I, after turning in my mind for a moment an idea that
struck me as excellent; 'could you bring me a pistol?' 'Softly,' said
Lescaut to me, 'you don't think of committing murder?' I assured him
that I had so little intention of shooting anyone, that it would not be
even necessary to have the pistol loaded. 'Bring it to me tomorrow,' I
added, 'and do not fail to be exactly opposite the great entrance with
two or three of your friends at eleven tomorrow night; I think I shall
be able to join you there.' He in vain requested me to explain my
plan. I told him that such an attempt as I contemplated could only
appear rational after it had succeeded. I begged of him to shorten his
visit, in order that he might with the less difficulty be admitted next
morning. He was accordingly admitted as readily as on his first visit.
He had put on so serious an air, moreover, that a stranger would have
taken him for a respectable person.
"When I found in my hand the instrument of my liberty, I no longer
doubted my success. It was certainly a strange and a bold project; but
of what was I not capable, with the motives that inspired me? I had,
since I was allowed permission to walk in the galleries, found
opportunities of observing that every night the porter brought the keys
of all the doors to the governor, and subsequently there always reigned
a profound silence in the house, which showed that the inmates had
retired to rest. There was an open communication between my room and
that of the Superior. My resolution was, if he refused quietly to
surrender the keys, to force him, by fear of the pistol, to deliver
them up, and then by their help to gain the street. I impatiently
awaited the moment for executing my purpose. The porter arrived at his
usual time, that is to say, soon after nine o'clock. I allowed an hour
to elapse, in order that the priests as well as the servants might be
all asleep. I at length proceeded with my pistol and a lighted candle.
I first gave a gentle tap at the governor's door to awaken without
alarming him. I knocked a second time before he heard me; and
supposing of course that it was one of the priests who was taken ill
and wanted assistance, he got out of bed, dressed himself, and came to
the door. He had, however, the precaution to ask first who it was, and
what was wanted? I was obliged to mention my name, but I assumed a
plaintive tone, to make him believe that I was indisposed. 'Ah! it is
you, my dear boy,' said he on opening the door; 'what can bring you
here at this hour?' I stepped inside the door, and leading him to the
opposite side of the room, I declared to him that it was absolutely
impossible for me to remain longer at St. Lazare; that the night was
the most favourable time for going out unobserved, and that I
confidently expected, from his tried friendship, that he would consent
to open the gates for me, or entrust me with the keys to let myself out.
"This compliment to his friendship seemed to surprise him. He stood
for a few moments looking at me without making any reply. Finding that
I had no time to lose, I just begged to assure him that I had the most
lively sense of all his kindnesses, but that freedom was dearer to man
than every other consideration, especially so to me, who had been
cruelly and unjustly deprived of it; that I was resolved this night to
recover it, cost what it would, and fearing lest he might raise his
voice and call for assistance, I let him see the powerful incentive to
silence which I had kept concealed in my bosom. 'A pistol!' cried he.
'What! my son? will you take away my life in return for the attentions
I have shown you?' 'God forbid,' replied I; 'you are too reasonable to
drive me to that horrible extremity: but I am determined to be free,
and so firmly determined, that if you defeat my project, I will put an
end to your existence.' 'But, my dear son!' said he, pale and
frightened, 'what have I done to you? What reason have you for taking
my life?' 'No!' replied I, impatiently, 'I have no design upon your
life, if you, yourself, wish to live; open but the doors for me, and
you will find me the most attached of friends.' I perceived the keys
upon the table. I requested he would take them in his hand and walk
before me, making as little noise as he possibly could.
"He saw the necessity of consenting. We proceeded, and as he opened
each door, he repeated, always with a sigh, 'Ah! my son, who could have
believed it?' 'No noise, good Father, no noise,' I as often answered
in my turn. At length we reached a kind of barrier, just inside the
great entrance. I already fancied myself free, and kept close behind
the governor, with my candle in one hand, and my pistol in the other.
"While he was endeavouring to open the heavy gate, one of the servants,
who slept in an adjoining room, hearing the noise of the bolts, jumped
out of bed, and peeped forth to see what was passing. The good Father
apparently thought him strong enough to overpower me. He commanded
him, most imprudently, to come to his assistance. He was a powerful
ruffian, and threw himself upon me without an instant's hesitation.
There was no time for parleying--I levelled my pistol and lodged the
contents in his breast! 'See, Father, of what mischief you have been
the cause,' said I to my guide; 'but that must not prevent us from
finishing our work,' I added, pushing him on towards the last door. He
did not dare refuse to open it. I made my exit in perfect safety, and,
a few paces off, found Lescaut with two friends waiting for me,
according to his promise.
"We removed at once to a distance. Lescaut enquired whether he had not
heard the report of a pistol? 'You are to blame,' said I, 'why did you
bring it charged?' I, however, could not help thanking him for having
taken this precaution, without which I doubtless must have continued
much longer at St. Lazare. We went to pass the night at a tavern,
where I made up, in some degree, for the miserable fare which had been