Leon tranquilly took the little gold ring and prepared to place it on Clementine's finger, but he perceived that the hand of his betrothed was dried up; the nails alone had retained their natural freshness.

He was frightened and fled across the church, which he found filled with colonels of every age and variety.

The crowd was so dense that the most unheard-of efforts failed to penetrate it.

He escapes at last, but hears behind him the hurried steps of a man who tries to catch him.

He doubles his speed, he throws himself on all-fours, he gallops, he neighs, the trees on the way seem to fly behind him, he no longer touches the earth.