De Lantagnac rode up furiously, followed by Le Gardeur. De
Lantagnac recognized the Bourgeois, who stood in his way talking to
the crippled soldier. He cursed him between his teeth, and lashed
his horse with intent to ride him down as if by accident.
The Bourgeois saw them approach and motioned them to stop, but in
vain. The horse of De Lantagnac just swerved in its course, and
without checking his speed ran over the crippled man, who instantly
rolled in the dust, his face streaming with blood from a sharp
stroke of the horse's shoe upon his forehead.
Immediately following De Lantagnac came Le Gardeur, lashing his
horse and yelling like a demon to all to clear the way.
The Bourgeois was startled at this new danger, not to himself,--he
thought not of himself,--but to the bleeding man lying prostrate
upon the ground. He sprang forward to prevent Le Gardeur's horse
going over him.
He did not, in the haste and confusion of the moment, recognize Le
Gardeur, who, inflamed with wine and frantic with passion, was
almost past recognition by any who knew him in his normal state.
Pages:
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035