At the same moment, and apparently by the same influence, the peasants one and all felt themselves restrained from moving forwards, the Baroness ceased to scream, and a dead silence fell upon the whole of the party, whilst, with a low and miserable moan, the false heir crept behind the coal-scuttle, and crouched himself down within as small a compass as possible. The whole of this marvellous effect had apparently been produced by a very trifling cause. The low, tinkling sound of a harp was heard, and those who looked round in the right direction saw, standing in the embrasure of one {096}of the windows which looked out upon the lake, an old man of by no means noble or prepossessing exterior, with a leaf-crowned hat upon his head, and a harp of very simple construction in his hands, from the strings of which he elicited the sound they had heard, to which he now added that of his own voice. And thus he sang, in a dull, monotonous tone, to the astonished audience:-- “Whoever murders, robs, and loots, Within these walls of Bandelboots, Must hear his doom and take his choice, Instructed by the Harper’s voice. Ye men of form and manners rough, Old Bandelboots has woes enough, The which when ye have heard and known You’ll leave the worthy man alone. To you and yours he’s done no harm, But, subject to a potent charm, Has suffered woes, by demon sent, Enough to make your hearts relent. T’ expose the wickedness be mine (In spite of demons of the Rhine), And ye who list shall know ere long The truth and justice of my song. There was an infant once, who smiled On those around like angel child; A child of soul and temper rare-- Of Bandelboots the precious heir. Where now that child is to be found, Who knows? I pause, and look around, And ask if this description suits The present heir of Bandelboots? What is that wretched changeling worth? Come forth, vile elf, at once come forth!” Here the stranger paused, and, to the wonder and surprise of all those who heard and saw, the supposed young heir crept moaning and whining from behind the coal-scuttle, and shambled across the room towards the window {097}at which the old harper was standing. As he did so, the strange bard continued his song,-- “Form of boy, with heart of ape, Resume at once thy former shape!”