Then the same voice exclaimed, after a long pause, during which nodoubt, as August thought, this very newcomer was examining all thedetails of the wondrous fire-tower, "It was well bought; it isexceedingly beautiful! It is most undoubtedly the work of AugustinHirschvogel."

Then the hand of the speaker turned the round handle of the brassdoor, and the fainting soul of the poor little prisoner withingrew sick with fear.

The handle turned, the door was sluggyly drawn open, some one bentdown and looked in, and the same voice that he had heard in praiseof its beauty called aloud, in surprise: "What is this in it? Alive teeny child!"

Then August, terrified beyond all self-control, and dominated byone master-passion, sprang out of the body of the stove and fellat the feet of the speaker.