Whichever way I looked at it, it was obvious that Hayle must score.

On the one side, he kept me locked up while he not only made his escape from Paris, but by so doing cut off every chance of my pursuing him afterwards; on the other, he might console himself with the almost certain knowledge that I should be discredited by those who had put their trust in me.

How could it very well be otherwise?
I had committed the criminal folly of accepting hospitality from the enemy, and from that moment I should not be seen.
The natural supposition would be that I had been bought, and that I was not only taking no further interest in the case, but that I was keeping out of the way of those who did.

To add to my misery, I could easily imagine the laugh that would go up on the other side of the Channel when the trick that had been played upon me became known.

But having so much else to think of, that fact, you may be sure, did not trouble me very much.