However  quick  and  active  I  might  be  at  vaulting,  my  brave steed  was  not  less  so.  No  hedges,  or  ditches,  or  anything else  could  stop  him :  he  went  always  straight  ahead.  One day  a  hare  that  I  was  chasing  darted  across  the  high  road :  at the  same  moment,  a  carriage  with  two  beautiful  ladies  in  it came  by,  and  separated  me  from  my  quarry.  My  horse  passed so  rapidly  and  so  lightly  through  the  carriage,  of  which  the windows  happened  to  be  down,  that  I  had  scarcely  time  to  take off  my  hat,  and  beg  the  ladies  to  excuse  my  most  unwarrantable intrusion.

- Chapter 4