Quicker than it takes to tell it, I laid hold of the rope of the alarm bell and set it pealing.
The retainers answered with a will. A score of them burst into the hall-way ready for the word of command.
“Seize the fire-buckets, my lads!” I called out calmly, but in a tone of sufficient dignity to inspire perfect confidence.
“Man ladders to the windows of my apartments.”
By this time another gang of the tenantry came rushing in upon the scene. I met them with an order to unhang the portraits in the baronial dining-hall, and store them in a place of safety. Then, having spoken a few words of comfort to the gracious baroness, my mother, I seized a fire-bucket and led the line up the stairway. Laying my shoulder against the door of my apartments, I burst it open; and, with head lowered before the blaze of light dashed in, followed by the bucket-bearers.
“Halt!” I cried.
It was too late! some of my finest hangings and rugs were spoiled by half a dozen buckets of water emptied upon them.
The mystery was solved! The blaze of light that fairly flooded my apartments proceeded from the huge fire-flies which had hatched out without being noticed by me. But I didn’t begrudge my ruined hangings.
There was my recompense clinging to the walls.
I need hardly say, that the giant fire-flies were the wonder of their day, and brief as it was it sufficed to cover my name with a glory as resplendent, as their mysterious fire.