He ordered them to descend before him, one after another, by means of the ladder, which the flames might devour in a moment.

The first of these wretched people obeyed without uttering a word; the accent and the physiognomy of Lord Nelville had entirely subdued him.

A third wished to resist, without suspecting the danger that he incurred by each moment of delay, and without thinking of the peril to which he exposed Oswald in detaining him.

The people, who felt all the horrors of his situation, cried out to Lord Nelville to return, and to let those maniacs get away how they could.

But the deliverer would listen to nothing till he had achieved his generous enterprise.
Of the six lunatics who were in the madhouse, five were already saved; there now only remained the sixth who was chained.