But they so arranged the inside of the chimney as to send all the smoke into the house.

The collector suffered for two months before he found out why his chimney, which had always drawn so well, and of which he had often boasted, played him such tricks; he was then obliged to build a new one.
At another time, they put three trusses of hay dusted with brimstone, and a quantity of oiled paper down the chimney of a pious old woman who was a friend of Madame Hochon.

In the morning, when she came to light her fire, the poor creature, who was very gentle and kindly, imagined she had started a volcano.

The fire-engines came, the whole population rushed to her assistance.

Several Knights were among the firemen, and they deluged the old woman's house, till they had frightened her with a flood, as much as they had terrified her with the fire.