Who would go to these people if he did not go?
As to his father, he had coaxed him before for his own advantage; he could coax him now for theirs if he would.

He was sufficiently educated to know that it was more glorious to die, even unrenowned, upon such a mission, than to live in the prosperity that belongs to ordinary covetousness, that should it be his duty to obey this call, no other duty remained for him in its neglect.
His personal desire in the matter was neither more nor less noble than are the average feelings of well-meaning people towards such enterprise.
He would have been glad to find an excellent excuse to think no more of this mission--very glad indeed to have a more attractive opening for work set before him; but, on the other hand, the thought of movement and of fresh scenes was more attractive than staying where he was.

Then, it would be such a virtuous thing to do and to have done; his own conscience and everyone who heard of the action must applaud it.

And he did not think so much of the applause of others as of the real worthiness of the deed.

Then, again, if he came back safely in the spring, he hoped by that time the offer of some good post would be waiting for him; and it would be more dignified to return from such an excellent work to find it waiting, than to sit at home humbly longing for its advent.
Caius went to Souris and questioned the merchants, talked to the captains of the vessels in the port, saw the schooner upon which Madame Le Maitre had engaged his passage.