noon
` However , ' said I to him , ` when it is a mere question of more or less , I do not believe that she would give me up for any other person ; I can afford to let her want for nothing , and I have from day to day reason to hope that my fortune will improve ; I only dread one thing , ' continued I , ` which is , that G -- M -- may take unfair advantage of the knowledge he has of our place of residence , and bring us into trouble by disclosing it . ' `` M. de T -- assured me that I might be perfectly easy upon that head ; that G -- M -- might be capable of a silly passion , but not of an act of baseness ; that if he ever could be villain enough for such a thing , he , de T -- , would be the first to punish him , and by that means make reparation for the mischief he had occasioned . ` I feel grateful for what you say , ' said I , ` but the mischief will have been all done , and the remedy even seems doubtful ; the wisest plan therefore will be to quit Chaillot , and go to reside elsewhere . ' ` Very true , ' said M. de T -- , ` but you will not be able to do it quickly enough , for G -- M -- is to be here at noon ; he told me so yesterday , and it was that intelligence that made me come so early this morning to inform you of his intentions . You may expect him every moment . ' '' `` The urgency of the occasion made me view this matter in a more serious light . As it seemed to me impossible to escape the visit of G -- M -- , and perhaps equally so to prevent him from making his declaration to Manon , I resolved to tell her beforehand of the designs of my new rival .