‘And once,’ went on Ranulph, sitting up in bed, his cheeks flushed, his eyes bright and feverish, ‘in the garden in full daylight I saw them dancing – the Silent People, I mean – and their leader was a man in green, and he called out to me, “Hail, young Chanticleer! Some day I’ll send my piper for you, and you will up and follow him!” And I often see his shadow in our garden, but it’s not like our shadows, it’s a bright light that flickers over the lawn. And I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, some day, I know I shall!’ and his voice was frightened and, at the same time, triumphant.
