to realize as singular the
whole of this interview--the broken phrases which I could not
interpret, the look of worry, the embarrassment of long silences.

After a time, at her request, we turned into one of the smaller
avenues. Meanwhile I made brief efforts at impersonal talk--the rain,
the vivid lightning,--wondering if it were the latter which made her
so nervous. She murmured short replies, and at last I gave up my
efforts at talk, and we drove on in silence, the darkness meanwhile
coming the sooner for the storm.

By and by she said, "I owe you an apology for my preoccupation. I
am--I have reason to be--troubled. You must pardon my silence."

Much surprised, I acquiesced with some trifling remark, and we went
on, neither of us saying a word, while the rain beat on the leaky
cover of the carriage, and now and then I heard a loud "Sacre!" from
the coachman as the lightning flashed.

It was now quite dark. We were far across the Bois and in a narrow
road. To set her more at ease, I was about to tell her my name and
official position, when of a sudden she cried:

"Oh, monsieur, we are followed! I am sure we are followed. What shall
I do?"

Here was a not very agreeable adventure.

I said, "No, I think not."

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 o