He crashed into the footlights, but recovered himself and ran forward.

In an instant he had enveloped the agonized figure of the singer and had crushed out the flames with swift, strong movements.
Then lifting the now unconscious artist in his great arms, he strode off with her behind the scenes.
"Well done, Byng! Well done, Ruddy Byng!" cried a strong voice from the audience; and a cheer went up.
In a moment Byng returned and came down the stage.

"She is not seriously hurt," he said simply to the audience.

"We were just in time." Presently, as he entered the Grenfel box again, deafening applause broke forth.
"We were just in time," said Ian Stafford, with an admiring, teasing laugh, as he gripped Byng's arm.
"'We'-- well, it was a royal business," said Jasmine, standing close to him and looking up into his eyes with that ingratiating softness which had deluded many another man; "but do you realize that it was my cloak you took ?" she added, whimsically.
"Well, I'm glad it was," Byng answered, boyishly.

"You'll have to wear my overcoat home." "I certainly will," she answered.