, and choosing the one I thought best fitted for
a hard chase--it was evident we could not afford to fight it out at
Sceaux--and to fight seemed now his purpose--I vaulted lightly into the
saddle, and before Jerome could hinder, had jumped the low wall and
taken the direct road to Paris.

Practiced horseman as Jerome was, it took him no time to follow, and
his grooms joined in the chase.

On, on, we sped. Trees, fences, walls and people all melted into one
motley and indistinguishable stream. In the open road we strung out,
according to the speed of our mounts, one of the grooms dropping
farther and farther in the rear. The distance between Jerome and
myself, despite his frantic belaborings of his brave steed, grew
steadily greater.

Just before we passed a crooked lane off to the left, leading whither I
knew not, Jerome turned in his saddle and called to the two grooms now
well to the rear.

"That way quick; to the Versailles road. Cut him off."

The fellows obeyed, reining their horses into a swinging lope, as, less
hurried, they took the lane indicated. Jerome thence rode on after me
alone. The situation was now becoming awkward. I had acted without
cool consideration heretofore, taking the Paris road because it was the
only one I knew, and trusting thereafter largely to fortune. Now, as I
caught occasional glimpses of the city spires, the towers of Notre
Dame, I must perforce remember I had no hopes from them. The crazed
man behind knew the city well, while to me it was a labyrinth of
difficulty. I had no friends, while he counted many. I must act, and
that quickly. Had I but known enough to turn down that lane into the
Versailles road I could have reached the palace without molestation,
thanks to my good luck in picking the best horse of the lot. Thinking
of the lane brought an idea which promised well.

Moderating my speed gradually I suffered Jerome to draw nearer. I then
called over my shoulder that as we were now man to man, we might
dismount and fight it out upon a piece of level sward beside the road.
His horse was nearly spent, and inflamed to fury by the fear of my
escape, he eagerly agreed. While we parleyed, I worked myself into a
position near his horse's head, and as he prepared to alight, snatched
my sword and with a quick upper cut severed one rein near the bit. The
blade having cut his horse slightly under his throat, he reared and
plunged, and finding himself uncontrolled star