Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/124

100 the station, they noticed, below the flight of steps, a crowd of people excited at a train blazing with ignited petroleum, which shot forth flames as high as houses.

"Look, Monsieur le Comte, that will set him mad again! If I were you I would again turn about," suggested Landrillon, the servant. And he was about to descend.

But Henry prevented him, whipping up the horse and giving it the reins so that the scared animal started trotting across the crowd.

"A la grâce de Dieu!" exclaimed the Count with a disdainful smile.

Disappointing the alarmed anticipations of the valet, the animal, which a bit of paper or a dead leaf was generally sufficient to terrify, passed through the crowd, and trotted, without showing the least panic, through the midst of the crackling flames, the whistling of the water from the steam-pumps, and the cries and tumult of the spectators.

"All the same, Monsieur, we have escaped it finely!" said Landrillon when they had passed the critical zone. And he grumbled spitefully between his teeth:—

"With such antics as these he will one