'I am so frightened, Monsieur Nicholas,' said she; 'I fear something must have happened to Madeleine; I heard the people crying out that some one was killed.'
'That was a man,' said the young man. 'I saw the horses tread him down, it made me turn sick and giddy. The hoof of one horse cut open his head just behind the ear, and the skull must have been crushed, for the brain burst out as the horse trod his head down. Did you see nothing of that?'
'No, no; I am thankful I did not.'
'I am rather taller than most of these French fellows; and as the man fell there was a lane formed between the heads, and I saw it all.'
'When do you think Madeleine will be here?'
'I really cannot guess, but I hope before long.'
'And you are certain no harm has befallen her?'
'Harm befall Madeleine!' exclaimed Nicholas; 'that is an impossibility. You never saw such a girl as that is for keeping out of danger herself, though she will go into the midst of what is perilous to other people.'
'Oh,' sighed Gabrielle, 'how I wish that I were out of Paris, and back in peaceful Bernay. And yet that cannot be.'
'I cannot say that I wish it,' said Nicholas, simply.