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That spacious thoroughfare literally swarmed with vehicles of every kind；
and on the sidewalks the pedestrians were so numerous that they looked
like two indeterminate black ribbons unfurling their length from the Arc
de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde。 A flood of sunlight played on
this gay scene； making the varnish of the carriages； the steel of the
harness and the handles of the carriage doors shine with dazzling
brilliancy。
An intoxication of life and motion seemed to have invaded this assemblage
of human beings； carriages and horses。 In the distance the outlines of
the Obelisk could be discerned in a cloud of golden vapor。
As soon as Hector's horse had passed the Arc de Triomphe he became
suddenly imbued with fresh energy； and； realizing that his stable was not
far off； began to trot rapidly through the maze of wheels； despite all
his rider's efforts to restrain him。
The carriage was now far behind。 When the horse arrived opposite the
Palais de l'Industrie he saw a clear field before him； and； turning to
the right； set off at a gallop。
An old woman wearing an apron was crossing the road in leisurely fashion。
She happened to be just in Hector's way as he arrived on the scene riding
at full speed。 Powerless to control his mount； he shouted at the top of
his voice：
〃Hi！ Look out there！ Hi！〃
She must have been deaf； for she continued peacefully on her way until
the awful moment when； struck by the horse's chest as by a locomotive
under full steam； she rolled ten paces off； turning three somersaults on
the way。
Voices yelled：
〃Stop him！〃
Hector； frantic with terror； clung to the horse's mane and shouted：
〃Help！ help！〃
A terrible jolt hurled him； as if shot from a gun； over his horse's ears
and cast him into the arms of a policeman who was running up to stop him。
In the space of a second a furious； gesticulating； vociferating group had
gathered round him。 An old gentleman with a white mustache； wearing a
large round decoration； seemed particularly exasperated。 He repeated：
〃Confound it！ When a man is as awkward as all that he should remain at
home and not come killing people in the streets； if he doesn't know how
to handle a horse。〃
Four men arrived on the scene； carrying the old woman。 She appeared to
be dead。 Her skin was like parchment； her cap on one side and she was
covered with dust。
〃Take her to a druggist's；〃 ordered the old gentleman； 〃and let us go to
the commissary of police。〃
Hector started on his way with a policeman on either side of him； a third
was leading his horse。 A crowd followed themand suddenly the wagonette
appeared in sight。 His wife alighted in consternation； the servant lost
her head； the children whimpered。 He explained that he would soon be at
home； that he had knocked a woman down and that there was not much the
matter。 And his family； distracted with anxiety； went on their way。
When they arrived before the commissary the explanation took place in few
words。 He gave his nameHector de Gribelin； employed at the Ministry of
Marine； and then they awaited news of the injured woman。 A policeman who
had been sent to obtain information returned； saying that she had
recovered consciousness； but was complaining of frightful internal pain。
She was a charwoman； sixty…five years of age； named Madame Simon。
When he heard that she was not dead Hector regained hope and promised to
defray her doctor's bill。 Then he hastened to the druggist's。 The door
way was thronged； the injured woman； huddled in an armchair； was
groaning。 Her arms hung at her sides； her face was drawn。 Two doctors
were still engaged in examining her。 No bones were broken； but they
feared some internal lesion。
Hector addressed her：
〃Do you suffer much？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃
〃Where is the pain？〃
〃I feel as if my stomach were on fire。〃
A doctor approached。
〃Are you the gentleman who caused the accident？〃
〃I am。〃
〃This woman ought to be sent to a home。 I know one where they would take
her at six francs a day。 Would you like me to send her there？〃
Hector was delighted at the idea； thanked him and returned home much
relieved。
His wife； dissolved in tears； was awaiting him。 He reassured her。
〃It's all right。 This Madame Simon is better already and will be quite
well in two or three days。 I have sent her to a home。 It's all right。〃
When he left his office the next day he went to inquire for Madame Simon。
He found her eating rich soup with an air of great satisfaction。
〃Well？〃 said he。
〃Oh； sir；〃 she replied； 〃I'm just the same。 I feel sort of crushednot
a bit better。〃
The doctor declared they must wait and see； some complication or other
might arise。
Hector waited three days； then he returned。 The old woman； fresh…faced
and clear…eyed； began to whine when she saw him：
〃I can't move； sir； I can't move a bit。 I shall be like this for the
rest of my days。〃
A shudder passed through Hector's frame。 He asked for the doctor； who
merely shrugged his shoulders and said：
〃What can I do？ I can't tell what's wrong with her。 She shrieks when
they try to raise her。 They can't even move her chair from one place to
another without her uttering the most distressing cries。 I am bound to
believe what she tells me； I can't look into her inside。 So long as I
have no chance of seeing her walk I am not justified in supposing her to
be telling lies about herself。〃
The old woman listened； motionless； a malicious gleam in her eyes。
A week passed； then a fortnight； then a month。 Madame Simon did not
leave her armchair。 She ate from morning to night； grew fat； chatted
gaily with the other patients and seemed to enjoy her immobility as if it
were the rest to which she was entitled after fifty years of going up and
down stairs； of turning mattresses； of carrying coal from one story to
another； of sweeping and dusting。
Hector； at his wits' end； came to see her every day。 Every day he found
her calm and serene； declaring：
〃I can't move； sir； I shall never be able to move again。〃
Every evening Madame de Gribelin； devoured with anxiety； said：
〃How is Madame Simon？〃
And every time he replied with a resignation born of despair：
〃Just the same； no change whatever。
They dismissed the servant； whose wages they could no longer afford。
They economized more rigidly than ever。 The whole of the extra pay had
been swallowed up。
Then Hector summoned four noted doctors； who met in consultation over the
old woman。 She let them examine her； feel her； sound her； watching them
the while with a cunning eye。
〃We must make her walk；〃 said one。
〃But； sirs； I can't！〃 she cried。 〃I can't move！〃
Then they took hold of her； raised her and dragged her a short distance；
but she slipped from their grasp and fell to the floor； groaning and
giving vent to such heartrending cries that they carried her back to her
seat with infinite care and precaution。
They pronounced a guarded opinionagreeing； however； that work was an
impossibility to her。
And when Hector brought this news to his wife she sank on a chair；
murmuring：
〃It would be better to bring her he