they were stars,
And I know they were shining,
But so brightly. The daintiest things that were ever created.
They danced on my heart from the moment I saw them,
But so lightly
That while they were there my heart became lighter,
Yet on it they made an enduring impression,
Lasting and deep.
Fairies' steps may be slighter,
But so slightly.
You'll think I am mad, but I'm only a blighter.
I thought they were stars, And I know they were shining."

"Thank you very much. I didn't know you were a poet."

"Nor was I till I entered your service," said I.

So presently we came to Laipnik. I stopped outside the little town,
put on my cap, and settled the girl on the back seat. Five minutes
later we rolled up to the hotel.

On the steps stood a stout man with a serious face, looking
suspiciously at the cigar he had just lighted.

"Hullo, Uncle Dick," said my mistress.

"My dear child, I am glad you've come. You aunt's upstairs rather
tired, but wild to see you. We're going to stay another night here and
go on early tomorrow."

"Are you? I'll come up at once."

I opened the door of the car and handed her out. She kissed her
relative and turned to me.

"Er--will you--er--"

I coughed.

"You will get your own lunch, Norval, and come to the office for orders
at half-past two."

"Very good, madam."

As I raised my cap:

"Oh, I feel such a beast," she murmured.

I never gave Berry and the others a thought till I had eaten my lunch
and was musing over my coffee with a cigarette. They were coming in
the car from Salzburg, and were going to join me this evening at a farm
called Poganec, where I had slept last night and where we were all
going to stay. We had told people we were going to fish. I think
Jonah meant it. We others were going to sleep and watch him and sleep
again. Now, Poganec and Savavic were only seven miles apart, and were
served by the same post office. In fact, they were at opposite ends of
the same valley, in the midst of which, half-way between the two, our
common village slept in the hot sun. It was in the course of my first
walk that I had come upon Savavic. And now, instead of being at
Poganec to welcome them this afternoon, here was I at Laipnik
pretending to be a chauffeur. What did it matter? I should be back
that evening. Only seven miles...

At half-past two I was at the office, and at twenty-nine minutes to
three my lady appeared in the hall. I