the signal for setting out, he appeared in a closely fitting
coat of scarlet and gold, with his waist drawn in tight, his chest
expanded, his eyes radiant, and as fresh and strong as if he had just
got out of bed. They set off, and the wild boar set off through the
underwood as soon as he was dislodged, followed by the hounds in full
cry, while the horses set off at a gallop through the narrow sides cut
in the forest, while the carriage which followed the chase at a
distance, drove noiselessly along the soft roads.

From mischief, Madame d'Avancelles kept the baron by her side, and
lagging behind at a walk in an interminably long and straight drive,
over which four rows of oaks hung, so as to form almost an arch, while
he, trembling with love and anxiety, listened with one ear to the young
woman's bantering chatter, while with the other he listened to the blast
of the horns and to the cry of the hounds as they receded in the
distance.

"So you do not love me any longer?" she observed. "How can you say such
things?" he replied. And she continued: "But you seem to be paying more
attention to the sport than to me." He groaned, and said: "Did you not
order me to kill the animal myself?" And she replied gravely: "Of course
I reckon upon it. You must kill it under my eyes."

Then he trembled in his saddle, spurred his horse until it reared, and,
losing all patience, exclaimed: "But, by Jove, Madame, that is
impossible if we remain here." Then she spoke tenderly to him, laying
her hand on his arm, or stroking his horse's mane, as if from
abstraction, and said with a laugh: "But you must do it ... or else ...
so much the worse for you."

Just then they turned to the right, into a narrow path which was
overhung by trees, and suddenly, to avoid a branch which barred their
way, she leaned towards him so closely, that he felt her hair tickling
his neck, and he suddenly threw his arms brutally round her, and
putting his thick moustache onto her forehead, he gave her a furious
kiss.

At first she did not move, and remained motionless under that mad
caress; then she turned her head with a jerk, and either by accident or
design her little lips met his, under their wealth of light hair, and a
moment afterwards, either from confusion or remorse, she struck her
horse with her riding-whip, and went off at full gallop, and they rode
on like that for some time, without exchanging a look.

The noise of the hunt came nearer, the thicket