He would have put me on my guard, and I should not have so fatally committed myself with the _posadero_.
But regrets are useless and worse.

They waste time and weaken resolve.

The question of the moment was, What should I do?
How avoid the danger which I felt sure was impending?
There seemed only one way--immediate flight.

I would go to Carera, tell him all that had happened, and ask him to arrange for my departure from Caracas that very night.

I could steal away unseen when all was quiet.
"At once," I said to myself--"at once.