My conscience had reproached me little enough during the evening's folly, but now in the presence of danger and the prospect of disgrace, my one idea was what a _fool_ I had been.
Ah! greatest fool of all, that I had never discovered it till now, when disgrace and ruin stared me in the face.

It is easy enough to be contrite with the policeman at your heels.

But I was yet to discover that real repentance is made of sterner stuff, and needs a hand that is stronger to save and steadier to direct than any which I, poor blunderer that I was, had as yet reached out to.
If I could but escape--this once--how I vowed I would never fall into such folly again! I ran as if for my life.

The streets were empty, and my footsteps echoed all round till it sounded as if a whole regiment of police were pursuing me.

My companions had all vanished, some one way, some another.