While he was holding her back, and she straining every nerve to get to the fire, he began to show sudden symptoms of distress.

He gasped loudly, and cried, "Oh! oh! I'm choking!" and then his clutch relaxed.

She tore herself from it, and, plunging forward, rescued the smoking parchment.
At that moment she heard a great stagger behind her, and a pitiful moan, and Sir Charles fell heavily, striking his head against the edge of the sofa.

She looked round--as she knelt, and saw him, black in the face, rolling his eyeballs fearfully, while his teeth gnashed awfully, and a little jet of foam flew through his lips.
Then she shrieked with terror, and the blackened deed fell from her hands.

At this moment Polly rushed into the room.