"
"Humph!" said Herode, drawing a long breath; "why those brutes must be
of the same breed as the famous horses of that Diomedes, King of Thrace,
we read of, that pursued men to tear them asunder, and fed upon their
flesh. But at least you are not hurt, my lord, I trust! That coachman
saw you perfectly well, and I would be willing to wager all I possess
in the world that he purposely tried to run over you--he deliberately
turned his horses towards you--I am sure of it, for I saw the whole
thing. Did you observe whether there was a coat of arms on the panel?
As you are a nobleman yourself I suppose you must be familiar with the
devices of the leading families in France."
"Yes, I am of course," answered de Sigognac, "but I was too much
occupied in getting out of the way of the swift rolling carriage to
notice whether there was anything of that kind on it or not."
"That's a pity," rejoined the tyrant regretfully, "for if we only knew
that, we should have a clew that might lead to our discovering the truth
about this most suspicious affair. It is only too evident that some one
is trying to put you out of the way, quibuscumque viis, as the pedant
would say. Although we unfortunately have no proof of it, I am very much
inclined to think that this same carriage belongs to his lordship, the
Duke of Vallombreuse, who wished to indulge himself in the pleasure of
driving over the body of his enemy in his chariot, in true classical and
imperial style.
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