As we approached we ran into Hagen. He was flying down the steps of the right wing like a maniac. "You! You!" he almost screamed with joy on recognizing the Grand Duchess. "I was terrified! I _am_ so thankful." He kissed her hands frantically. "Forgive me, forgive me!" he stammered, turning to me. "Stay here with her," I said, and, running off, I made for the banqueting-hall at top speed. "Where's he going?" cried Aurora. "Stop him!" But I was already too far. Crossing the banqueting-hall, I got into the right wing of the castle. It was the left which was on fire, with the library, and, of course, the armoury. What was I thinking of? I had no very clear idea myself. Some force, with which argument was useless, was urging me on. Some time later I tried to reason out my action. In my room was my money, papers, a few letters from my mother--my whole life, so to speak. Yet I'm certain that not for one moment did I think that I was running such risks for things like these. Dense clouds of smoke shot with sparks were pouring out of the first-floor corridor, at the end of which was the door of my room. I met Kessel coming down. I heard him shout: "Where are you going? The stairs are in flames. The corridor's burning!" But I'd already left him far behind. I took off my jacket and wrapped it round my head. I don't know how I managed to get to the door of my room. I only remember that when I touched the handle I burnt my fingers. Try as I might, I couldn't get the door open. The key turned in the lock as usual, but the door resisted. It was then that I noticed a stout iron bolt, screwed into the door at one end and clamped to the wall at the other. "So that's it!" I said, "and my window looks on to the ravine of the Melna!" I didn't even start I understood. I knew what I wanted. "So you thought, sire, that I should be still in my room! Didn't you, now?" To come and go was but the work of a minute. When I was at the bottom of the staircase a fearful crash was heard. The upper half of the whole corridor had just collapsed. When, wild-eyed and scorched, I got back to the Grand Duchess, several groups had already collected in the park. A tall man was standing with her and Hagen. It was the Grand Duke. "Monsieur Vignerte," he cried rapturously, when he saw me. "Oh, what a weight you've taken off my mind! Have you come from far?" "Yes, indeed, sir, very far!" I replied, and nearly fell. "Hold him!" cried Aurora to Hagen. The little red Hussar obeyed. "Look out!" the Grand Duke broke in suddenly. "That's exactly what I feared." Catching hold of his wife, he had suddenly jumped back a dozen yards or so. We all followed suit, stupefied.