A shriek of terror from Louise, from her lover a shout of alarm, blended with the sound of breaking glass.

In an instant a great flame shot up half way to the ceiling.

The lamp-shade was ablaze; the much-embroidered screen, Mrs.Mumford's wedding present, forthwith caught fire from a burning tongue that ran along the carpet; and Louise's dress, well sprinkled with paraffin, aided the conflagration.

Cobb, of course, saw only the danger to the girl.

He seized the woollen hearthrug and tried to wrap it about her; but with screams of pain and frantic struggles, Louise did her best to thwart his purpose.
The window was open, and now a servant, rushing in to see what the uproar meant, gave the blaze every benefit of draught.
'Bring water!' roared Cobb, who had just succeeded in extinguishing Louise's dress, and was carrying her, still despite her struggles, out of the room.