The room, which had been quite dark, became suddenly lighted up, as if by the reflection of thousands of torches from without; not only the house of Ezofowich, but the whole sky above was illuminated by a red glare.
The men and women stood spell-bound in the middle of the room, and looked silently at the fiery volumes, which rose higher and higher into the heavens above.
"How quickly he has done the deed!" said Abraham.
Nobody answered.
The little town, so quiet a moment before, became suddenly very noisy and tumultuous. No nation in the world is so easily carried away by sensations of any kind. This time the sensation was a powerful one. It was aroused by the mighty element which carries destruction upon earth and lifts its blood-red banner up to the skies, The noise of thousands of running feet re-echoed in the streets like the rushing of many waters. The square was black with a dense crowd, which swiftly and noisily moved in one direction. Above the din of all the voices single words were heard now and then more distinctly.
"Kamionka! It is the Kamionka estate!" exclaimed those that knew the country.
"Hear! hear! it is Kamionka!" took up a chorus of voices.
"Ai! Ai! such a fine place! such a magnificent place!"
Those were the last words that reached the inmates of Ezofowich's house. The crowd streamed on, and the voices sounded faint and far off.
Then Saul rose from the sofa, and, his face turned towards the window, he stood silent and motionless.