On her call, however, he opened the door; she
saw that he had been in tears, and hastened to tell him Mr.
Saunders's opinion. He fastened the door again as soon as she had
entered. 'If I could have thought it!' sighed he. 'Fool that I was,
not to lock the door!'
'Then you were not there? Phyllis says that she did it by banging
the door. Is not that nonsense?'
'Not at all. Did I not read to you in the Year Book of Facts about
the patent signal rockets, which explode with the least vibration,
even when a carriage goes by? Now, mine was on the same principle.
I was making an experiment on the ingredients; I did not expect to
succeed the first time, and so I took no precautions. Well!
Pyrotechnics are a dangerous science! Next time I study them it
shall be at the workshop at the Old Court.'
Maurice was sincerely sorry for the consequence of his disobedience,
and would have been much to be pitied had it not been for his secret
satisfaction in the success of his art. He called his sister into
the schoolroom to explain how it happened. The room was a dismal
sight, blackened with smoke, and flooded with water, the table and
part of the floor charred, a mass of burnt paper in the midst, and a
stifling smell of fire.
Pages:
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307