It needed the remembrance of my solitary condition, of my past spent in straits and failure, of the grey hairs which swept my cheek, of the sword which I had long used honourably, if with little profit to myself; it needed the thought of all these things to restore me to courage and myself.
I judged at a later period that my companion was affected in somewhat the same way; for, as I stooped to press home the pegs which I had brought to tether the horses, he laid his hand on my arm.

Glancing up to see what he wanted, I was struck by the wild look in his face (which the moonlight invested with a peculiar mottled pallor), and particularly in his eyes, which glittered like a madman's.

He tried to speak, but seemed to find a difficulty in doing so; and I had to question him roughly before he found his tongue.

When he did speak, it was only to implore me in an odd, excited manner to give up the expedition and return.
'What, now ?' I said, surprised.

'Now we are here, Fresnoy ?' 'Ay, give it up!' he cried, shaking me almost fiercely by the arm.