'I soon fell into a disturbed sleep, and dreamed that the whole upper part of the house was in flames, and that my brother, in endeavoring to escape out of the front door with some valuable article about him, was seized by six or eight men, and carried away to prison, in spite of his entreaties. I dreamed also that I was standing in the door, and the whole building suddenly gave way, and was about to fall upon my head. At this I awoke in terror, but soon became sensible of my situation, when I found my brother standing over me, and shaking me by the shoulder. 'It was now about a quarter of three. Petro had prepared every thing, even to a match, to insure speedy conflagration. ''Now then,' said he, 'nerve yourself for the consummation. Take this match, and set fire to the bed-clothes, while I touch this other pile with my candle.' 'He did so, and at the same moment my trembling hands applied the torch to the light drapery of the bed. In an instant, curtains, sheets, and all, were in a blaze, while at the other end of the room the fire spread with astonishing rapidity among the dry and flimsy stuffs which had been thrown together in a heap. Seeing all things in such fine progress, we turned our steps toward the door, which was about midway of the room, when I recollected that we had left a small box of jewelry and money at the foot of the bed. ''Stop, one moment, till I get the box,' said I, and directed my steps to the bed. ''Make haste!' said my brother, as he stood with his hand on the latch. 'I threw up the clothes at the foot of the bed. ''Where is it? I cannot touch it?' I asked. ''Under the right corner, between the sack and the ----' ''It has been stolen! Who has been in here? Haven't you put it somewhere else?' ''Look under the head; it is surely there. Hurry!' ''Impossible!' The fire had become scorching hot, so that I could endure it no longer. Not only the whole bed, but the wainscot and window sashes had begun to burn. I was obliged to make my way to the door. ''It was left there, I tell you; it MUST be got; it is all our dependence for immediate funds. Ludovico, seek it once more!' exclaimed my brother. ''Will you have me burn myself to death! My shirt-sleeves are burnt off now. I hear some one coming.' ''It is your ears--try again!' returned Petro. ''I go--but you see!' I replied, as I turned back, holding up my arms, which were already severely scorched. ''Here, take this stick,' cried Petro, wrenching off a strip from the wall, and heaving it to me; 'that will save your hands.'