ll London burns about their ears?"

Young Lord Desborough was the speaker. He had risen in some
excitement from the table where he had been seated at breakfast,
for James Harmer had just come in with the news that the fire was
still burning with the same fierceness as of old; that it had
spread beyond the city walls, Ludgate and Newgate having both been
reduced to a heap of smoking ruins; that it was spreading northward
and westward as fiercely as ever; whilst even in an easterly
direction it was creeping slowly and insidiously along, so that men
began to whisper that the Tower itself would eventually fall a
prey.

"Nay, now, but that must not, that shall not be!" cried Lord
Desborough in great excitement. "Shame enough for London that St.
Paul's is gone! Are we to lose every ancient building of historic
fame? What would his Majesty say were that to perish also? Zounds!
methinks my Lord Mayor must surely be sleeping. In good King Henry
the Eighth's reign his head would have been struck off ere now.

"Thou hast seen him, thou sayest, good Master Harmer. What does he
purpose to do? Surely he cannot desire all the city to perish. Yet,
methinks, that will be what will happen, if indeed it be not
already accomplished."

"He is like one distraught," answered Harmer. "I went to him
yesterday, and I have been again at break of day this morn. I have
told him how we saved the bridge, and have begged powers of him to
effect great breaches at various points to stay the ravages of the
flames; but he will do naught but say he must consider, he must
consider."

"And whilst he considers, London burns to ashes!" cried the young
nobleman in impetuous scorn. "A plague upon his consideration and
his reflections! We want a man who can act in times like these.
Beshrew me if I go not to his Majesty myself and tell him the whole
truth. Methinks if he but knew the dire need for bold measures,
London might even now be saved--so much of it as yet remains. If
the Lord Mayor is worse than a child at such a crisis, let us to
his Majesty and see what he will say!"

"A good thought, in truth," answered Harmer thoughtfully. "But
surely his Majesty knows?"

"Ay, after a fashion doubtless; but it takes some little time to
rouse the lion spirit in him. He is wont to laugh and jest somewhat
too much, and dally with news, whilst he throws the dice with his
courtiers, or passes a compliment to some fair lady. He takes life
somewhat too lightly doe