Manon Lescaut

Des Grieux’s plan to attack those guarding Manon fails miserably, as most of his hired help quickly abandons him. Those who remain advise him to return to Paris, hire different men, and try again the next day, but Des Grieux refuses. Instead, he asks those guarding Manon and the other sex workers to allow him to speak to Manon. They take advantage of his love for Manon and “became so inflexible in their dealings that, continually doubling the price they made [him] pay for the least of their favours, they soon reduced [him] to total penury” (131). It is at this point that Renoncour first encounters Manon and Des Grieux.

Des Grieux writes to Tiberge for money but does not hear back from him; he sells his horse instead. He then boards the ship on which Manon and the other women are being sent to America. He has “no difficulty in being taken on board ship. At that time they were looking for young men who were disposed to join the colony voluntarily” (132). Des Grieux tells the captain his story, lying only about being married to Manon, and the captain treats them both very well on the long journey.