‘There! Put your fears aside, and be reasonable,’ said Watt, coming to a rest. ‘Jasper is below, munching his dinner. I have seen him. He would not eat whilst you were by. He did not suspect I was lying on the rock overhead in the heath, peering down on you both whilst you were talking. I can skip about, I can scramble anywhere, I can almost fly. I do not wish Jasper to know I am here. No one must know but yourself, for I have come here on an errand to you.’ ‘To me!’ echoed Eve, hardly recovered from her terror. ‘I am come from Martin. You remember Martin? Oh! there are not many men like Martin. He is a king of men. Imagine an old town, with ancient houses and a church tower behind, and the moon shining on it, and in the moonlight Martin in velvet, with a hat in which is a white feather, and his violin, under a window, thinking you are there, and singing _Deh, vieni alla finestra_. Do you know the tune? Listen.’ The boy took his fiddle, and touching the strings with his fingers, as though playing a mandolin, he sang that sweet minstrel song. Eve’s blue eyes opened wonderingly, this was all so strange and incomprehensible to her. ‘See here, Miss Zerlina, you were singing _Là ci darem_ just now, try it with me. I can take Giovanni’s part and you that of Zerlina.’ ‘I cannot. I cannot, indeed.’ ‘You shall. I shall stand between you and the wood. You cannot escape over the rock, you would be dashed to pieces. I will begin.’ Suddenly a loud voice interrupted him as he began to play—’Watt!’ Standing under the shadow of the oaks, with one foot on the rocky platform, was Jasper. ‘Watt, how came you here?’ The boy lowered his violin and stood for a moment speechless. ‘Miss Eve,’ said Jasper, ‘please go home. After all, you have encountered the pixy, and that a malicious and dangerous imp. Stand aside, Watt.’ The boy did not venture to resist. He stood back near the edge of the rock and allowed Eve to pass him. When she was quite gone, Jasper said gravely to the boy, ‘What has brought you here?’ ‘That is a pretty question to ask me, Jasper. We left you here, broken and senseless, and naturally Martin and I want to know what condition you are in. How could we tell whether you were alive or dead? You know very well that Martin could not come, so I have run here to obtain information.’ ‘I am well,’ answered Jasper, ‘you may tell Martin, everywhere but here,’ he laid his hand on his heart. ‘With such a pretty girl near I do not wonder,’ laughed the boy. ‘I shall tell poor Martin of the visits paid you at the water’s edge.’ ‘That will do,’ said Jasper; ‘this joking offends me. Tell Martin I am here, but with my heart aching for him.’ ‘No occasion for that, Jasper. Not a cricket in the grass is lighter of spirit than he.’ ‘I dare say,’ said the elder, ‘he does not feel matters acutely. Tell him the money must be restored. Here I stay as a pledge that the debt shall be paid. Tell him that I insist on his restoring the money.’