The night was dark and calm.

All London seemed to slumber, and the dark houses around about stood up out of the universal darkness like huge coffins.
Suddenly the horizon began to grow bright, and on the sky appeared a streak of fiery red, which, blazing up higher and higher, soon illuminated the entire horizon with a crimson glow, and even shed its glaring fiery beams over the balcony on which stood the royal pair.
Still the bells clanged and clamored; and blended with their peals was heard now and then, in the distance, a piercing shriek and a clamor as of thousands and thousands of confusedly mingled voices.
Suddenly the king turned to Catharine, and his countenance, which was just then overspread by the fire-light as with a blood-red veil, had now assumed an expression of savage, demoniacal delight.
"Ah," said he, "I know what it is.

You had wholly bewildered me, and stolen away my attention, you little enchantress.

I had for a moment ceased to be a king, because I wished to be entirely your lover.

But now I bethink me again of my avenging sovereignty! It is the fagot-piles about the stake which flame so merrily yonder.