I promise you it was not at all pleasant to see.

Why, she was taken with a shuddering fit--" But she was unable to proceed with her explanation, for a cry arose outside: "A BERLIN! A BERLIN! A BERLIN!" And Lucy, who felt suffocated, flung wide the window and leaned upon the sill.

It was pleasant there; the air came fresh from the starry sky.
Opposite her the windows were all aglow with light, and the gas sent dancing reflections over the gilt lettering of the shop signs.
Beneath these, again, a most amusing scene presented itself.

The streams of people were discernible rolling torrentwise along the sidewalks and in the roadway, where there was a confused procession of carriages.
Everywhere there were vast moving shadows in which lanterns and lampposts gleamed like sparks.

But the band which now came roaring by carried torches, and a red glow streamed down from the direction of the Madeleine, crossed the mob like a trail of fire and spread out over the heads in the distance like a vivid reflection of a burning house.