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A STORY OF BOHEMIAN LOVE
153

muslin shirt indicated that he belonged to the lowest class of servants.

At last the stranger opened his tearful eyes and, mute with astonishment, gazed at the harper as if he could not believe his eyes. But as the form leaning over him remained motionless, mistrust and anger appeared on his face. Suddenly a light flashed upon the harper, who had begun to connect the story of the stewardess with the stranger’s question. Smiling, he said:

“Ah, you came to see your lady, the lutanist, and you are disappointed because instead of her you found only a harper?”

The young man jumped up as if wounded.

“Who are you? How came you here? What are you saying?” he exclaimed, looking confusedly about the room. He placed his trembling hand on his perspiring forehead, and tried to collect his scattered thoughts, while with the other hand he felt around for a support.

“I am only a poor harper, formerly a teacher of the present mistress of Hlohov,