I was preparing for bed when he arrived. The door of our room being closed, I did not hear the knocking at the street door; but he entered the house, accompanied by two Archers, and after making some fruitless inquiries as to his son's whereabouts, he decided to see his mistress and get what enlightment he could from her. He came upstairs to the room we were in, still followed by the Archers.
Just as we were about to get into bed, he threw open
the door, and our hearts sank within us as we saw him standing before us.
"Heaven protect us!" I cried to Manon, "it is old G——— M———!"
I sprang forward to seize my sword; but, alas! it was entangled in the belt. The Archers, whose quick eyes had detected the object of my sudden movement, ran at once to wrest the weapon from me. A man in his night-shirt is scarcely in a condition to offer much resistance, and I was quickly deprived of all means of defence.
G——— M———, although this scene caused him no little perturbation, was not long in recognizing me; and Manon he knew even more readily.
"Is this a dream?" he said grimly, "or do I indeed
