Now, he turned round, and at the sight of the gulf he had just cleared, grew faint with terror.
"Assuredly, I must have been drunk," thought he; "that woman must have intoxicated me with caresses.

Good heavens! I was a fool and mad! I risked the guillotine in a business like that.

Fortunately it passed off all right.

But if it had to be done again, I would not do it." Laurent lost all his vigor.

He became inactive, and more cowardly and prudent than ever.