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When Napier leaves, I take a break and sit for tea in the garden. Who should come along but Gunther, the Minstrel - Tinkerer! At first the ladies try to shoo him off, but he won't be shooed. He prances, and sings, and wheedles, and soon they are singing along with him. He comes into the garden with them when they bring the tea.
"My lord, we tried...." and then they start to giggle.
I smile back, "Everyone knows you can't keep a Good Gunther down." I laugh as I say it. "Bring the rest of the sandwiches, and some for Gunther." I say.
As the ladies leave, I tell Gunther quickly and quietly, "Chancellor Napier will send a man to Trieste to buy heavy crossbows. Back him up discretely; see that those crossbows get back here safely." The ladies return; Gunther sings beautiful lunchtime songs for us; soon we are all joining in.
When lunch is finished, he goes on his way, and the ladies are none-the-wiser to the fact that Gunther is my chief covert agent.
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