Djura nodded, and proceeded to the rectory. The door creaked and the air smelt of stone dust. He left the broken Mother and Child statue — together with her nose — on the table, along with a neat stack of shillings. Then he withdrew an ornate pen and scrap of notepaper, and explained that the statue had been accidentally broken, and he was very sorry. He signed it Baron Crossridge and made no mention of the girl.

Heralded by the echoing of his cane on the floor, Djura returned to the chapel. He paused to regard a stained glass design, then turned his gaze to the floundering lass. "Sometimes one feels that magic is ungoldly, doesn't one."