“The Mayor was still, and the Council stood as if they were changed into blocks of wood. Unable to move a step or cry to the children merrily skipping by, they could only follow with the eye that joyous crowd at the Piper’s back.”
″ ‘The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer,’ said the Mayor in fact, ‘he is little better than a beggar.’ ”