But being now a _nardac_ of the highest rank in that empire, such offices were looked upon as below my dignity, and the emperor (to do him justice), never once mentioned them to me.
However, it was not long before I had an opportunity of doing his majesty, at least as I then thought, a most signal service.

I was alarmed at midnight with the cries of many hundred people at my door; by which, being suddenly awaked, I was in some kind of terror.

I heard the word _Burglum_ repeated incessantly: several of the emperor's court, making their way through the crowd, entreated me to come immediately to the palace, where her imperial majesty's apartment was on fire, by the carelessness of a maid of honour, who fell asleep while she was reading a romance.

I got up in an instant; and orders being given to clear the way before me, and it being likewise a moonshine night, I made a shift to get to the palace without trampling on any of the people.

I found they had already applied ladders to the walls of the apartment, and were well provided with buckets, but the water was at some distance.