THE EQUINOX
for we had come fighting to the Place St. Michel. ‘Darkness
yields to light; I am your servant, sir.’ He dropped on one
knee, and tendered the hilt of his sword.
“But as I put out my hand to take it (guarded against
attack, I boast me, but not against the extraordinary trick
which followed) he suddenly snatched at the ermine, which
lay loosely on my left arm, and, leaving me with sword and
dagger, fled with a shriek of laughter across the Place
St. Michel, and, flinging the furs over the bridge, himself
plunged into the Seine and swam strongly for the other bank.
“There was no object in pursuing him; I would recover
the furs, and return triumphant. Alas! they had sunk ; they
were now whirled far away by the swift river. Where should
I get a cloak ?
“ How stupid of me! The old woman had plenty of other
clothes beneath her furs ; I would take them.
“ And I set myself gaily to run back to the house.
Ill
“Whether by excitement I took the wrong turning, or
whether—but you will hear !—in short, I do not clearly under-
stand even now why I did not at once find the road. But at
least I did fail to find it, discovered, as I supposed, my error,
corrected it, failed once more. . . . In theend I got flustered—
so much hung on my speedy return !—I fluttered hither and
thither like a wild pigeon whose mate has been shot. I
stopped short, pulled myself together. Let me think it out!
Where am I now? I was under the shadow (the dawn just
lit its edge) of the mighty shoulder of St. Sulpice. ‘More
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