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 coming. In that restless slumber, feeling my loss more bitterly than when awake and thinking about it, suddenly some heavenly sounds touched my sad soul. Then these sounds were transformed into a beautiful rainbow, and I dreamed that my father was descending over it and calling me to him. Under the influence of that feverish dream I jumped out of my bed, followed the sounds and came here. Pardon me, if in that vision, startled by seeing a person where no one has ventured for whole decades, I addressed you somewhat strangely. An intruder, as you suspect, I am not. It is only my duty to listen to every sound in this Castle. I am the son of the deceased porter. Andrew is my name.”

The harper listening with surprise to the young man’s fluency of speech, which was another incongruity with his position, unconsciously drew back, and shyly asked:

“You come from the family of the Hlohov porter whose relative was burned?”

Andrew’s face flushed. He straightened himself in pride and scorn before the harper.