I then heard behind me the noise of people running. At the sound of the broken windows, Lerne and his assistants had come out of the laboratory. They had seen the escape, and were making at full speed for the fatal wood. Unfortunately, the assistants were afraid of my proximity, and the _détour_ which they were making to avoid me, outside the paddock, would delay them. Lerne had boldly taken a short cut, climbed over the wire, and was hurrying to the middle of the enclosure, with his coat torn by the artificial thorns. Alas! he was old and slow! They would arrive--all of them, too late! I dashed at the frail barrier, broke it down, and smashed and crashed through it, in spite of the little _chevaux de frise_ which lacerated my skin. I was over the wall of greenery in a moment, at a jump. The sun, through the vault of leaves, was dappling the underwood with its rays, and there, on the edge of the forest road I saw Emma lying--the Minotaur gloating over her. I had no leisure for a longer look. In a moment, all my maddened blood was in my head, and goaded by an indomitable wrath I dashed ahead with my horns down. I struck something which fell. I trod it under my four hoofs, and with my back to my victim, I kicked, and kicked, and kicked! Suddenly the voice of my uncle, gasped: “Hallo! hallo! hallo! you are killing _yourself_!” My madness vanished--the stars went out, and everything reappeared. The beautiful girl, awaking, blinked her eyes, without understanding anything. The assistants watched me, each behind a tree, and Lerne, leaning over my form, which was inert and dislocated, raised its head, in which a large hole was bleeding, and it was I! I! who had committed the mad act of injuring _myself_! The Professor, who was feeling the victim all over, gave us his diagnosis: “One arm dislocated, three ribs broken, fracture of the left clavicle and _tibia_. One recovers from that, but the kick on the head--Ah! that’s more serious. Hm! the brain is beaten to a pulp--it is destroyed--all will be over in half-an-hour. _Finita la Commedia!_” I had to put my shoulder up against a tree, to save myself from falling. So my body, my country of countries, was going to die! It was all over! Now, for ever banished from my ruined dwelling. I had destroyed the first condition of my deliverance. It was all over. Lerne himself could do nothing; he had admitted as much. In half an hour _all would be over_! But this brain! Perhaps he could.... Yes, he could do anything! Yes! I drew near him. It was my last chance. My uncle, who had turned to the girl, was speaking with grief in his voice. “How you must have loved him, to love him still in his pitiable condition. My dear Emma, am I so little lovable, that you prefer such a wreck to me?” Emma was weeping in her hands. How she must love him, looking turn by turn at the Professor, the dying creature and at me. How she must love him!