However, I did hear a carriage behind us; and as she persisted, I
looked back and saw through the night the lamps of what I took to be a
cabriolet.
As at times we moved more slowly, so it seemed did the cabriolet; and
when our driver, who had no lights, saw better at some open place and
went faster, so did the vehicle behind us. I felt sure that she was
right, and to reassure her said: "We have two horses. He has one. We
ought to beat him." I called to Alphonse to tell the driver to drive
as fast as he could and he should have a napoleon. He no doubt
comprehended the situation, and began to lash his horses furiously.
Meantime the woman kept ejaculating, "_Mon Dieu!_" and then, in
English, "Oh, I am so afraid! What shall we do?" I said, "I will take
care of you." How, I did not know.
It was an awkward business--probably a jealous husband; but there was
no time to ask for explanations, nor was I so inclined. It seemed to
me that we were leaving our pursuers, when again I heard the vehicle
behind us, and, looking back, saw that it was rapidly approaching, and
then, from the movement of the lanterns, that the driver in trying to
overtake us must have lost control of his horse, as the lights were
now on this side of the road, now on that. My driver drew in to the
left, close to the wood, thinking, I presume, that they would pass us.
A moment later there was a crash. One of our horses went down, and the
cabriolet--the lighter vehicle--upset, falling over to the right. As
we came to a standstill I threw open the left-hand door saying: "Get
out, madame! Quick! Into the wood!" She was out in an instant and,
favored by the gloom, was at once lost to sight among the thick
shrubbery. I shut the door and got out on the other side. It was very
dark and raining hard as I saw Alphonse slip away into the wood
shadows. Next I made out the driver of the cabriolet, who had been
thrown from his seat and was running up to join us.
In a moment I saw more clearly. The two coachmen were swearing, the
horses down, the two vehicles, as it proved later, not much injured. A
man was standing on the farther side of the roadway. I went around the
fallen cab and said: "An unlucky accident, monsieur. I hope you are
not hurt." He was holding a handkerchief to his head.
"No, I am not much hurt."
"I am well pleased," said I, "that it is no worse." I expected that
the presumably jealous husband would at once make himself unpleasant.
To my surprise, he stood a moment without speaking, and, as I fancied,
a little dazed by his fall. Then he said:
"There is a woman in that carriage."
I was anxious to gain time for the fugitive, and replied: "Monsieur
must be under some singular misapprehension. There is no one in my
carriage."
"I shall see for myself," he said sharply.
"By all means. I am quite at a loss to understand you." I was sure
that he would not be able to see her.
He staggered as he moved past me, and was evidently more hurt than he
was willing to admit. I went quickly to my coachman, who was busy with
a broken trace. Here was the trouble--the risk. I bent over him and
whispered, putting a napoleon in his hand, "There was no woman in the
carriage."
"Two," said the rascal.
"Well, two if you will lie enough."
"Good! This _sacre_ animal! Be quiet!"
I busied myself helping the man, and a moment later the gentleman went
by me and, as I expected, asked the driver. "There was a woman in your
carriage?"
"No, monsieur; the gentleman was alone, and you have smashed my
carriage. _Sacre bleu!_ Who is to pay?"
"That is of no moment. Here is my card." The man took it, but said
doubtfully,
"That's all well to-day, but to-morrow--"
"Stuff! Your carriage is not damaged. Here, my man, a half-napoleon
will more than pay."
The driver, well pleased with this accumulation of unlooked-for good
fortune, expressed himself contented. The gentleman stood, mopping the
blood from his forehead, while the two drivers set up the cabriolet
and continued to repair the broken harness. Glad of the delay, I too,
stood still in the rain saying nothing. My companion of the hour was
as silent.
At last the coachmen declared themselves ready to leave. Upon this,
the gentleman said to me: "You have denied, monsieur, that there was a
woman with you. It is my belief that she has escaped into the wood."
"I denied nothing," said I. "I invited you to look for yourself. The
wood is equally at your disposal. I regret--or, rather I do not
regret--to be unable to assist you."
Then, to my amazement, he said: "You, too, are in this affair, I
presume. You will find it serious."
"What affair? Monsieur is enigmatical and anything but courteous."
"You are insulting, and my friends will ask you to-morrow to explain
your conduct. I think you will further regret your connection with
this matter."
"With what matter?" I broke in. "This passes endurance."
"I fancy you need no explanation. I presume that at least you will not
hesitate to inform me of your name."
As he spoke his coachman called out to him to hold his horse for a
moment, and before I could answer, he turned aside toward the man. I
followed him, took out my card-case, and said as I gave him a card,
"This will sufficiently inform you who and what I am."
As I spoke he in turn gave me his card, saying: "I am the Count le
Moyne. I shall have the honor to ask through my friends for an
explanation."
He was evidently somewhat cooler. As he spoke I knew his name as that
of a recently appointed under-secretary of the Foreign Office. I had
never before seen him. As we parted I said:
"I shall be at home from eleven until noon to-morrow."
We lifted our hats, and the two carriages having been put in
condition, I drove away, with enough to think about and with some
wonder as to what had become of Alphonse.