Now, while the Duke of Ofena feeling safe, for at least that night,
from any danger, was attending the whining Carletto, a glare of light
from the south was reflected in the mirror, and new clamours arose
through the gusts of the south wind beneath the palace. At the same
time four or five servants appeared, who, while sleeping, intoxicated,
in the rooms below, had been almost suffocated by the smoke. They had
not yet recovered their senses, staggering, being unable to talk, as
their tongues were thick with drink. Others came running up, shouting:
“Fire! Fire!”
They were trembling, leaning against one another like a herd of sheep.
Their native cowardice had again overtaken them. All their senses were
dull as in a dream. They did not know what they ought to do, nor did
the consciousness of real danger urge them to use a ruse as a means of
escape.
Taken very much by surprise the Duke was at first perplexed. But
Carletto Grua, noticing the smoke coming in, and hearing that singular
roar which the flames make by feeding themselves, began to cry so
loudly, and to make such maddened gestures, that Don Filippo awoke from
the half drowsiness into which he had fallen, on beholding death.
Death was unavoidable. The fire, owing to the strong wind, was
spreading with stupendous speed through the whole edifice, devouring
everything in flames. These flames ran up the walls, hugging the
tapestries, hesitating an instant over the edge of the cloth, with
clear and changeable yet vague tints penetrating through the weave,
with a thousand thin, vibrating tongues, seeming to animate, in an
instant, the mural figures, with a certain spirit, by lighting up for a
second a smile never before seen upon the mouths of the nymphs and the
Goddess, by changing in an instant their attitudes and their motionless
gestures.
Passing on, in their still increasing flight, they would wrap
themselves around the wooden carvings, preserving to the last their
shapes, as though to make them appear to be manufactured of fiery
substance when they were suddenly consumed, turning to Cinders, as
if by magic. The voices of the flames were forming a vast choir, a
profound harmony, like the rustling of millions of weeds. At intervals,
through the roaring openings, appeared the pure sky with its galaxy of
stars.
Now the entire palace was a prey of the fire.
“Save me! Save me!” cried the old man, attempting in vain to get up,
already feeling the floor sinking beneath him, and almost blinded by
the implacable reddish glare.
“Save me! Save me!”
With a supreme effort he succeeded in rising and began to run, the
trunk of his body leaning forward, moving with little hopping steps, as
if pushed by an irresistible progressive impulse, waving his shapeless
hands, until he fell overpowered—the victim of the fire—collapsing
and curling up like an empty bladder.
By this time the cries of the people increased and at intervals arose
above the roar of the fire. The servants, crazed with terror and pain,
jumped out of the windows, falling upon the ground dead, where if not
entirely dead they were instantly killed. With every fall a greater
clamour arose.
“The Duke! The Duke!” the unsatisfied barbarians were crying as if they
wanted to see the little tyrant jump out with his cowardly protégé.
“Here he comes! Here he comes! Is it he?”
“Down! down! We want you!”
“Die, you dog! Die! Die! Die!”
In the large doorway, in the presence of the people, Don Luigi appeared
carrying on his shoulders the motionless body of Carletto Grua. His
whole face was burned and almost unrecognisable. He no longer had
any hair nor beard left. He was walking boldly through the fire,
endeavouring to keep his courage in spite of that atrocious pain.
At first the crowd was dumb. Then again broke forth in shouts and
gestures, waiting ferociously for this great victim to expire before
them.
“Here, here, you dog! We want to see you die!”
Don Luigi heard through the flames these last insults. He gathered
together all of his will-power and stood for an instant in an attitude
of indescribable scorn. Then turning abruptly he disappeared forever
where the fire was raging fiercest.