Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/109

 anxious state of suspense continued until two o'clock, when we again rose to depart, but were prevented by the kind interference of our friends, who insisted on our waiting still a little longer, arguing, that as I had met with so many disappointments, and had so repeatedly avowed my intention to act prudently, we ought to wait, even till the morrow night, if necessary. "What folly," continued Ricketts, "to blast all your prospects, by false notions of honour;" but the idea of flinching at this crisis, was so repugnant to my feelings, and so wounding to my pride, that it was with the utmost reluctance, I could consent to postpone the attempt another minute. A little calm and deliberate reflection, however, soon convinced me of the propriety of his remarks, and of the pure source whence they sprang. I also felt, that our liberty and lives being dependant upon my discretion, it behoved me not to allow my judgment to be influenced, by the opinions of the illiberal and the hotheaded, who, I feared, would attribute our delay to other causes, than