“There came a day, Clement, when the earl who had begun the work went to his final rest, and Stockholm was without a master builder.  Monks called the Gray Friars came to the country.  Stockholm attracted them.  They asked permission to erect a monastery there, so the king gave them an island—­one of the smaller ones—­this one facing Lake Maelar.  There they built, and the place was called Gray Friars’ Island.  Other monks came, called the Black Friars.  They, too, asked for right to build in Stockholm, near the south gate.  On this, the larger of the islands north of the city, a ‘Holy Ghost House,’ or hospital, was built; while on the smaller one thrifty men put up a mill, and along the little islands close by the monks fished.  As you know, there is only one island now, for the canal between the two has filled up; but it is still called Holy Ghost Island.

“And now, Clement, all the little wooded islands were dotted with houses, but still people kept streaming in; for these shores and waters have the power to draw people to them.  Hither came pious women of the Order of Saint Clara and asked for ground to build upon.  For them there was no choice but to settle on the north shore, at Norrmalm, as it is called.  You may be sure that they were not over pleased with this location, for across Norrmalm ran a high ridge, and on that the city had its gallows hill, so that it was a detested spot.  Nevertheless the Poor Clares erected their church and their convent on the strand below the ridge.  After they were established there they soon found plenty of followers.  Upon the ridge itself were built a hospital and a church, consecrated to Saint Goran, and just below the ridge a church was erected to Saint Jacob.

“And even at Soedermalm, where the mountain rises perpendicularly from the strand, they began to build.  There they raised a church to Saint Mary.

“But you must not think that only cloister folk moved to Stockholm!  There were also many others—­principally German tradesmen and artisans.  These were more skilled than the Swedes, and were well received.  They settled within the walls of the city where they pulled down the wretched little cabins that stood there and built high, magnificent stone houses.  But space was not plentiful within the walls, therefore they had to build the houses close together, with gables facing the narrow by-lanes.  So you see, Clement, that Stockholm could attract people!”

At this point in the narrative another gentleman appeared and walked rapidly down the path toward the man who was talking to Clement, but he waved his hand, and the other remained at a distance.  The dignified old gentleman still sat on the bench beside the fiddler.