While the grocer's clerk was putting up the packages the man himself laid his hand on Pete's shoulder.
"Now then, boy," he said kindly, "an areoplane dived down out o' the sky into your medder yisterday and picked up a homely, stupid girl and flew off with her."
"She was an angel!" exclaimed the dwarf. His dull eyes brightened and looked away. "She was more beautiful than flowers."
"She was, eh?" returned the grocer, and the crowd listened breathlessly. "They say your master was goin' to marry her? That a fact?"
The light went out of Pete's face and his lips closed.
The grocer shook him gently by the shoulder. "Speak up, boy. Was there any shootin'? Did the air turn blue 'round there?"
Pete's lips did not open for a moment. "Master told me not to talk," he said at last.
A burst of excited laughter came from the crowd. "Then it's true, it's true!" they cried.
The grocer kept his hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "Ye might as well tell," he said, "'cause Hiram Jones come in last night and told us all about it."
Pete's lips remained closed.