habit of concealing anything from him, I took him entirely into my confidence regarding my passion for Manon.
He listened to my avowal with an expression of disapproval in his face which made me tremble. Above all, I repented my folly in divulging my project of flight to him. He told me that he was too sincerely my friend not to oppose it by every means in his power. He would first, he said, urge upon me every consideration which he thought likely to dissuade me from it, and if I did not then renounce this unworthy determination of mine, he would notify persons who would effectually prevent its execution.
He thereupon lectured me gravely for more than a quarter of an hour, concluding with a repetition of his threat of informing against me unless I gave him my word of honor that I would not be guilty of conduct so opposed to all the dictates of reason and morality.
I was in despair at having betrayed myself at so awkward a juncture. However, love had sharpened my wits not a little during the last few hours, and, reflecting that I had not informed him that my plan was to be carried into effect the next day, I resolved to throw him off the scent by means of a slight equivocation.
"Tiberge," I said to him, "I have hitherto always believed you to be my friend, and I wished to put you to the
