The military, seeing the disturbance in the distance, and the flames issuing from the windows, made the best of their way towards the scene of tumult with what speed they could make.
"Here they come," said one.
"Yes, just in time to see what is done."
"Yes, they can go back and say we have burned the vampyre's house down—hurra!"
"Hurra!" shouted the mob, in prolonged accents, and it reached the ears of the military.
The officer urged the men onwards, and they responded to his words, by exerting themselves to step out a little faster.
"Oh, they should have been here before this; it's no use, now, they are too late."
"Yes, they are too late."
"I wonder if the vampyre can breathe through the smoke, and live in fire," said one.
"I should think he must be able to do so, if he can stand shooting, as we know he can—you can't kill a vampyre; but yet he must be consumed, if the fire actually touches him, but not unless he can bear almost anything."