Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/215

 *sented to reconsider the matter, and retired. About two hours had elapsed in this state of harrassing uncertainty, when he came up again, and declared it was utterly impossible he could secrete three, but would not object to take me into his house, provided I had no intercourse with the others. At this proposal, a sudden glow of indignation flushed through my veins, which, for the moment, sealed my lips, and excited an inclination to turn my back upon him, and stalk out of the house; but, on reflection, I suspected it a mere "finesse," to see if I was infamous enough to forsake my companions, and, therefore, with some warmth declared, that, however disastrous our continuing together might prove, it was my unalterable determination to share their fate,—with them to be restored to our country, or, with them to be enchained in the dungeons of the enemy. Despairing of bringing him to any decision, I requested the loan of a few louis, to enable us to purchase shoes, and other necessaries for a long journey, as we intended to march