"The beloved King is in the _best state possible_ for his present melancholy situation: that is, wholly free from bodily suffering, or imaginary mental misery, for he is persuaded that he is always conversing with Angels."[15] [Footnote 15: "Memoirs," vol. vii. p. 6.] CHAPTER XI. A Cat in a Conflagration -- Scramble for Exchequer Bills -- A Matrimonial Dispute -- An old Debtor -- A Volunteer Dinner -- A Man and Hedgehog -- Torpedoes -- Slavery -- Gambling on Napoleon's Life -- Gas Lighting. And now to wind up the year with a little _de omnibus rebus_, which would not fall into any particular place, yet are worth keeping, as indicative of the times of which I write: they have no connection with each other, so are taken in chronological order. On the 4th of April, a fire broke out at the "Commercial Hall," Skinner Street, Newgate Street, the Hall which, valued at £25,000, was the capital prize in the City Lottery. It was a bad fire, and two firemen were injured, but no lives lost. When at its fiercest, a Cat was seen on a part of the buildings which would soon inevitably be in flames. There was no human being to be burnt, so the sympathy of the crowd went out towards Pussy. There was no way of escape for her, except by an alarming leap, for the walls had crumbled and fallen in, and this leap Pussy could not make up her mind to take. The flames were encroaching, and gathering round her, and the mental tension of the Crowd was getting tighter and tighter every minute, when a gentleman enthusiastically offered £5 to any one who would rescue the Cat. A fireman was induced to make the attempt, and with great difficulty got behind the Cat, and forced her to take the leap, from the fifth storey, when she fell into the midst of the spectators unhurt! The fireman immediately received his promised reward.