It will  be  easily  imagined  that  the  Baron's  friends  were continually  importuning  him  to  continue  the  story  of  his strange  adventures,  which  they  found  as  instructive  as  it  was romantic.  These  solicitations,  however,  were  preferred  for  a long  while  in  vain.  It  was  one  of  the  Baron's  praiseworthy customs  to  do  nothing  but  what  suited  his  humour;  and  one still  more  praiseworthy,  never  to  allow  himself,  on  any  pretext whatever,  to  be  diverted  from  this  fixed  principle  of  action.

- Chapter 12