Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 119: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

98 Alfred de Rosann. “ Mille bombes! De Rosann,” ejaculated Belle-Rose, after a pause of gome minutes ; “do you not find the atmosphere very oppressive ?” ‘‘T thought so, and was about to notice the circumstance: there is moreover a suffocating smell.” ‘And that smell is of fire, as sure as we are living men!” cried Belle-Rose, hastily quitting the window, and putting on his clothes with all possible despatch. “ The dog barks incessantly,” observed De Rosann: “ the light increases above the house, and the air becomes heavier: I am certain there is a fire somewhere.” ‘s Wait one instant for me, and we will descend the stairs together: if there be any danger, we can alarm the inmates of the house; if not, we may return quietly to our beds.” But the intentions of Belle-Rose were anticipated: for at the moment he had uttered the last syllable of these words, the voice of Louis Dorval was heard in the enclosure below, crying out “ Fire! fire !"— then the noise of his footsteps, as he ascended the stairs, and rushed up and down the corridor, knocking at the doors, and repeating his terrible call, showed that he was on the alert. Not, when in the prisons of the Inquisition the awful command to prepare for the celebration of the auto-da-fé was passed round to those who were condemned to suffer—nor, when in the gallant vessel, that laboured to the storm, the heart-rending shout of “ A rock! a rock!” echoed along the sea-washed decks—not even there did those appalling news create more terror, than was experienced by the female inmates of the farm-house, as the fearful warning which Dorval gave at every door met their ears. Belle-Rose and De Rosann descended to the yard to ascertain which part of the house was on fire, and whether it were not possible to arrest the progress of the ravaging element. But the whole of the roof was enveloped in flames, that ascended in high and bright columns like the eruption from the mounts of tna or Vesuvius. The immediate vicinity of the spacious dwelling was as light as day; and the glare was almost too dazzling for the eye to support. There was not a breath of wind to agitate or excite the fire; but the house was old, rafters and beams of wood had been chiefly used in erecting it, and an immense quantity of straw occupied a portion of the loft, or grenier, between the second floor and the angular roof. There was consequently ample fuel to feed the spreading flames; and our hero and his comrade soon saw the impossibility of saving the house from an entire conflagration. Having mournfully and hastily satisfied themselves on this head, they immediately turned their attention to the saving of the furniture, and to assist the two ladies, and the sick wife of the unfortunate Dorval, to escape from the burning pile in safety. The farmer himself behaved like a man of courage and resolution on the occasion. He saw as well as De Rosann and Belle-Rose that it was ridiculous to think of stopping the fire; and instead of giving way to useless grief, he bestirred himself to extricate as much of his property as he was able from the building, which would soon be a heap of ruins. Fortunately his wife, by means of an extraordinary exertion, was enabled to rise from her bed, ill as - she was, and walk slowly down stairs; but the poor woman appeared to ECONnlNCEOOOlKS.CO