Into the street the piper stept, smiling first a little smile, as if he knew what magic slept in his quiet pipe the while: then, like a musical adept, to blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, and green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled, like a candle-flame where salt is sprinkled; and ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered, you heard as if an army muttered: and the muttering grew to a grumbling; and the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling; and out of the houses the rats came tumbling. he is punctual. he is stylish. he is intelligent. he is shocked.