His intrepid manner had saved him, but now that the night was over he felt such a weariness and lassitude as he had never known before.
The adventure had its amusing side, of course.

To Zorzi, who knew the people well, it was very laughable to think that a score of dissolute young patricians should first fancy themselves able to raise a revolution against the most firmly established government in Europe, and should then squander the privacy which they had bought at a frightful risk in mere gambling and dice-playing.

But there was nothing humorous about the oath he had taken.

In the first place, it had been sworn in solemn earnest, and was therefore binding upon him; secondly, if he broke it, his life would not be worth a day's purchase.

He was brave enough to have scorned the second consideration, but he was far too honourable to try and escape the first.