six o'clock before
all my entreaties in her favour would have been useless . The cruel sentence upon Manon had arrived at the same time as the warrant for my discharge . The unfortunate girl was conducted in an hour after to the Hospital , to be there classed with some other wretched women , who had been condemned to the same punishment . `` My father having forced me to accompany him to the house where he was residing , it was near six o'clock before I had an opportunity of escaping his vigilance . In returning to Le Chatelet , my only wish was to convey some refreshments to Manon , and to recommend her to the attention of the porter ; for I had no hope of being permitted to see her ; nor had I , as yet , had time to reflect on the best means of rescuing her . `` I asked for the porter . I had won his heart , as much by my liberality to him , as by the mildness of my manner ; so that , having a disposition to serve me , he spoke of Manon 's sentence as a calamity which he sincerely regretted , since it was calculated to mortify me .