traces. Two horses had followed it side by side; their eight feet were marked very distinctly in the clay.

One of the riders was more impatient than the other, for the footprints of the one were invariably in advance of the other about half a horse’s length.”

“Are you quite sure they were traveling together?” said the king.

“Yes sire. The horses are two rather large animals of equal pace, — horses well used to maneuvers of all kinds, for they wheeled round the barrier of the Rond-point together.”

“Well — and after?”

“The two cavaliers paused there for a minute, no doubt to arrange the conditions of the engagement; the