Suddenly an intense and brilliant glare shone through the casement, followed by a loud report, and then a fierce and ruddy glow.  A figure appeared at the window, uttering cries of agony or alarm, but immediately disappeared, and a body of smoke and flame whirled out of the narrow aperture.  Antonio rushed to the portal, and knocked at it with vehemence.  He was only answered by loud shrieks, and found that the females were already in helpless consternation.  With an exertion of desperate strength he forced the wicket from its hinges, and rushed into the house.

He found himself in a small vaulted hall, and, by the light of the moon which entered at the door, he saw a staircase to the left.  He hurried up it to a narrow corridor, through which was rolling a volume of smoke.  He found here the two females in a frantic state of alarm; one of them clasped her hands, and implored him to save her father.

The corridor terminated in a spiral flight of steps, leading up to the tower.  He sprang up it to a small door, through the chinks of which came a glow of light, and smoke was spuming out.  He burst it open, and found himself in an antique vaulted chamber, furnished with a furnace and various chemical apparatus.  A shattered retort lay on the stone floor; a quantity of combustibles, nearly consumed, with various half-burnt books and papers, were sending up an expiring flame, and filling the chamber with stifling smoke.  Just within the threshold lay the reputed conjurer.  He was bleeding, his clothes were scorched, and he appeared lifeless.  Antonio caught him up, and bore him down the stairs to a chamber, in which there was a light, and laid him on a bed.  The female domestic was despatched for such appliances as the house afforded; but the daughter threw herself frantically beside her parent, and could not be reasoned out of her alarm.  Her dress was all in disorder; her dishevelled hair hung in rich confusion about her neck and bosom, and never was there beheld a lovelier picture of terror and affliction.

The skilful assiduities of the scholar soon produced signs of returning animation in his patient.  The old man’s wounds, though severe, were not dangerous.  They had evidently been produced by the bursting of the retort; in his bewilderment he had been enveloped in the stifling metallic vapours, which had overpowered his feeble frame, and had not Antonio arrived to his assistance, it is possible he might never have recovered.

By slow degrees’ he came to his senses.  He looked about with a bewildered air at the chamber, the agitated group around, and the student who was leaning over him.

“Where am I?” said he wildly.

At the sound of his voice, his daughter uttered a faint exclamation of delight.  “My poor Inez!” said he, embracing her; then, putting his hand to his head, and taking it away stained with blood, he seemed suddenly to recollect himself, and to be overcome with emotion.