"Will you come to papa?" she said, taking him by both hands
and drawing him forward.

"Don't be frightened," said Horace, in his kind, cheerful
voice, trying to encourage her, for her face and lips were
colourless, and she was trembling as with a sudden chill. He
put one arm round her, and came forward to look at M. Linders.

"Allow me," he said; and this time his voice commanded
attention, and imposed a moment's silence on the confusion of
tongues. "I am a doctor, and can perhaps be of some use; but I
must beg of you not to press round in this way. Can anyone
tell me what has happened?" he added, as he bent over M.
Linders.

"It was an accident, Monsieur," said a man of the working-
class, standing by, "this poor gentleman must have had some
kind of fit, I think. I was crossing the Boulevards with him
about ten o'clock; there were a good many carriages about, but
we were going quietly enough, when suddenly I saw him stop,
put his hand to his head, and fall down in the road. I had to
run just then to get safely across myself, and when I reached
the other side, I saw a great confusion, and heard that a
carriage had driven straight over him."

There was a moment's pause, and Madelon said in a tremulous
whisper, "Papa used to have vertiges last winter, but he got
quite well again."