"There has been a frightful accident on the Versailles railroad."
"Good God!" exclaimed Louis, turning pale.
"The Paris train was derailed, several cars were telescoped, they took fire, nearly all the passengers were either crushed or burned to death, and—"
Louis could wait to hear no more. Forgetting his hat entirely, he rushed out of the office, and, running to a neighbouring cab-stand, he sprang into one of the vehicles, saying to the coachman:
"Twenty francs pourboire if you take me to the Versailles railway station at the top of your speed,—and from there, but I don't know yet,—only start, in Heaven's name start at once!"
"On the right or left bank of the river, monsieur?" asked the coachman, gathering up the lines.
"What?"
"There are two roads, monsieur, one on the right, the other on the left bank of the river."
"I want to go to the road where that terrible accident just occurred."
"This is the first I have heard of it, monsieur."