as not
far off, began to trot rapidly through the maze of wheels, despite all
his rider's efforts to restrain him.

The carriage was now far behind. When the horse arrived opposite the
Palais de l'Industrie he saw a clear field before him, and, turning to
the right, set off at a gallop.

An old woman wearing an apron was crossing the road in leisurely fashion.
She happened to be just in Hector's way as he arrived on the scene riding
at full speed. Powerless to control his mount, he shouted at the top of
his voice:

"Hi! Look out there! Hi!"

She must have been deaf, for she continued peacefully on her way until
the awful moment when, struck by the horse's chest as by a locomotive
under full steam, she rolled ten paces off, turning three somersaults on
the way.

Voices yelled:

"Stop him!"

Hector, frantic with terror, clung to the horse's mane and shouted:

"Help! help!"

A terrible jolt hurled him, as if shot from a gun, over his horse's ears
and cast him into the arms of a policeman who was running up to stop him.

In the space of a second a furious, gesticulating, vociferating group had
gathered round him. An old gentleman with a white mustache, wearing a
large round decoration, seemed particularly exasperated. He repeated:

"Confound it! When a man is as awkward as all that he should remain at
home and not come killing people in the streets, if he doesn't know how
to handle a horse."

Four men arrived on the scene, carrying the old woman. She appeared to be
dead. Her skin was like parchment, her cap on one side and she was
covered with dust.

"Take her to a druggist's," ordered the old gentleman, "and let us go to
the commissary of police."

Hector started on his way with a policeman on either side of him, a third
was leading his horse. A crowd followed them--and suddenly the
wagonette appeared in sight. His wife alighted in consternation, the
servant lost her head, the children whimpered. He explained that he would
soon be at home, that he had knocked a woman down and that there was not
much the matter. And his family, distracted with anxiety, went on their
way.

When they arrived before the commissary the explanation took place in few
words. He gave his name--Hector de Gribelin, employed at the
Ministry of Marine; and then they awaited news of the injured woman. A
policeman who had been sent to obtain information returned, saying that
she had recovered consciousness, but was complaining of fri