Fabrice s’éloignait d’un pas dont il cherchait à dissimuler la rapidité, lorsqu’il se sentit arrêter par le bras gauche : instinctivement il mit la main sur le manche de son poignard, et s’il ne se fût vu entouré de maisons, il fût peut-être tombé dans une étourderie.
Fabrizio made off at a pace the alacrity of which he was endeavouring to conceal, when he felt himself caught by the left arm: instinctively his hand went to the hilt of his dagger, and if he had not observed that he was surrounded by houses he might perhaps have done something rash.