The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

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 122