to them.  There were but few persons besides himself and his companion within the cathedral, and these few were chiefly booksellers’ porters, who were hurrying out of Saint Faith’s in the utmost trepidation.  By-and-by, these were gone, and they were alone—­alone within that vast structure, and at such a moment.  Their situation, though perilous, was one that awakened thrilling and sublime emotions.  The cries of the multitude, coupled with the roaring of the conflagration, resounded from without, while the fierce glare of the flames lighted up the painted windows at the head of the choir with unwonted splendour.  Overhead was heard a hollow rumbling noise like that of distant thunder, which continued for a short time, while fluid streams of smoke crept through the mighty rafters of the roof, and gradually filled the whole interior of the fabric with vapour.  Suddenly a tremendous cracking was heard, as if the whole pile were tumbling in pieces.  So appalling was this sound, that Leonard and his companion would have fled, but they were completely transfixed by terror.

While they were in this state, the flames, which had long been burning in secret, burst through the roof at the other end of the choir, and instantaneously spread over its whole expanse.  At this juncture, a cry of wild exultation was heard in the great northern gallery, and looking up, Leonard beheld Solomon Eagle, hurrying with lightning swiftness around it, and shouting in tones of exultation, “My words have come to pass—­it burns—­it burns—­and will be utterly consumed!”

The vociferations of the enthusiast were answered by a piercing cry from below, proceeding from Blaize, who at that moment rushed from the entrance of Saint Faith’s.  On seeing the porter, Leonard shouted to him, and the poor fellow hurried towards him.  At this juncture, a strange hissing sound was heard, as if a heavy shower of rain were descending upon the roof, and through the yawning gap over the choir there poured a stream of molten lead of silvery brightness.  Nothing can be conceived more beautiful than this shining yet terrible cascade, which descended with momentarily increasing fury, sparkling, flashing, hissing, and consuming all before it.  All the elaborately carved woodwork and stalls upon which it fell were presently in flames.  Leonard and his companions now turned to fly, but they had scarcely moved a few paces when another fiery cascade burst through the roof near the great western entrance, for which they were making, flooding the aisles and plashing against the massive columns.  At the same moment, too, a third stream began to fall over the northern transept, not far from where Blaize stood, and a few drops of the burning metal reaching him, caused him to utter the most fearful outcries.  Seriously alarmed, Leonard and Wingfield now rushed to one of the monuments in the northern aisle, and hastily clambering it, reached a window, which they burst open.  Blaize followed them, but not without receiving a few accidental