Sentence:  In the mean time, however, he himself (understand; the young "Nobilis") had seen that a fine smoke issued from the nostrils of the steed, and as he stooped down, he had immediately pulled forth a <WSD>lunt</WSD>, almost of a finger's length, the which was yet burning, and which a knave had privily poked into his nostrils with a needle. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A slow-burning match or torch.