They clinked together, the eyes of the rest of the room hanging upon the singer's actions.

He parted his lips for the third verse; but at that moment another knock was audible upon the door.

This time the knock was faint and hesitating.
The company seemed scared; the shepherd looked with consternation towards the entrance, and it was with some effort that he resisted his alarmed wife's deprecatory glance, and uttered for the third time the welcoming words, 'Walk in!' The door was gently opened, and another man stood upon the mat.

He, like those who had preceded him, was a stranger.

This time it was a short, small personage, of fair complexion, and dressed in a decent suit of dark clothes.
'Can you tell me the way to-- ?' he began: when, gazing round the room to observe the nature of the company amongst whom he had fallen, his eyes lighted on the stranger in cinder-gray.