The image of the wound was flashing before his eyes like the impression caused by too bright a light.

It moved away from him, increasing in size against the black sky; it took the shape of a pale continent whence he saw swarms of distracted little blacks pouring forth, armed with bows and arrows.
He decided that the first thing to do was to fetch Madame Simonneau, who lived close at hand, in the Boulevard Bineau, in the residential part of the cafe.

He closed the gate carefully, and went in search of the housekeeper.

Once on the boulevard, he recovered his equanimity.

He felt most uncomfortable about the accident; he accepted the accomplished fact, but he cavilled at fate in respect of the circumstances.