Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/149

 doubt, that, had we continued two minutes longer on the beach, or had not the muskets' clash given the alarm, we certainly should have come in contact with the guard; the result of which would have been imprisonment, or, not improbably, death. On regaining the high road, we consulted what measures to adopt; after some consideration, it was determined to revisit the "cabaret;" we accordingly returned to an adjoining wood, and there lay until day dawned, when Hunter and myself proceeded to the house, and were told the old lady had not yet risen. The nature of our embassy not admitting of much time being wasted in "punctilious etiquette," we went to her chamber door, and solicited an audience; this was readily granted, without any confusion, or even quitting her bed. After the usual salutations, we apologized for our early call, attributing it to the commandant at Blankenberg having ordered us back to Bruges, by seven o'clock, adding, that gratitude for her kindness, the preceding evening, had induced us to call "en passant."