Then, as if she could not help herself, she began to play one of her favourite tunes.
It was one she always felt somehow lifted her up into the sky and that she was playing to the stars rather than to an audience.
Carried away by her own music, Linetta went on playing.
Only when she stopped and dropped her hands into her lap did she hear someone clapping.
She sensed that the Prince had entered silently and had been sitting listening to her.
“It is wonderful, wonderful,” he said as he walked up to the stage. “Who could have taught you anything so marvellous?”
It was a question and she paused before she replied to him,
“Actually I composed it myself. When I play this piece, I always feel happy and the difficulties I am facing seem to slip away.”
“That is exactly how I feel,” the Prin
