“Just so; the car didn’t pass over his body?”

“No. In fact, I thought I’d missed him altogether.”

“He was reeling, you say?”

“Yes, I thought he was drunk.”

“And he came from the hedge?”

“There was a gate just there, I think. He must have come through the gate.”

The doctor nodded, then he leaned back in his chair and removed his pince-nez.

“I’ve no doubt at all,” he said, “that you’re a very reckless driver, and that you’ll probably run over some poor fellow and do for him one of these days⁠—but you haven’t done it this time.”

“But⁠—”