"'Carrying the flag, which is not to fall into the hands of the Arabs.'

"'It's my hat that he took.'

"'He took what he could. And where does the circus charger gallop to?'

"'Ah! I know, I know,' I exclaimed, in my turn, 'he goes to get the
sutler.'

"'Precisely. He goes to get the sutler; and the sutler to-day, if you
please, is I, Countess of Noriolis. Your big gray horse galloped into my
grounds. I was standing on the porch, putting on my gloves and ready to
step into my carriage, when the stablemen came running, upon seeing that
horse arrive saddled and bridled, without a rider, and a hat in his
mouth. They tried to catch him, but he shunned them and escaped, and
came straight to the porch, falling on his knees before me. The men
approached, and once more tried to catch him; but he got up, galloped
away, stopped by the gate of the grounds, turned around, and looked at
me. He called to me--I assure you, he called to me. I told the men not
to bother about the horse any more. Then I jumped into my carriage and
started; the horse rushed into the woods; post-haste I followed him by
paths that were not always intended for carriages; but still I followed
him, and I arrived and found you.'

"At the moment Mme. de Noriolis was speaking those last words the
carriage received a tremendous shock from behind; then we saw in the air
Brutus's head, which was held there upright as though by a miracle. For
it was again Brutus. Mounted by Bob, he had followed the carriage for
several minutes, and seeing that the back seat of the little
pony-carriage was unoccupied, he had, like a true artist, cleverly