It was now dusk, and the house had been gutted of all that had been most valuable in it--but the most brilliant part of the performance was yet to come.

We mean no contemptible pun.

The young man's dwelling-house, and office-houses were ignited at this moment by this man's military and other official minions, and in about twenty minutes they were all wrapped in one red, merciless mass of flame.

The country people, on observing this fearful conflagration, flocked from all quarters; but a cordon of outposts was stationed at some distance around the premises, to prevent the peasantry from marking the chief actors in this nefarious outrage.

Two gentlemen, however, approached, who, having given their names, were at once admitted to the burning premises.