On telling his name and position, the man was willing to state all he knew.
"I was on duty about eight o'clock," he said officially.

"There was a high wind blowing, but the night was fine and dry.

While walking down Crooked Lane, intending to take the path to the station, I saw a light behind the wall of the park.

Then a tongue of flame shot up, and it didn't need much cleverness to see that the old house was on fire.
Almost before I could collect my wits, sir, the place was in a blaze.
You see the dry weather, the heat and the high wind, made everything blaze finely.

I signalled for the brigade, and it came up as soon as possible.