THROUGH WILD EUROPE 241 



room had been promised to him first, and that it had 

 been given to me in the idea that I should only 

 want it for one night. However, I didn't have to 

 give up my room after all, for the old man was shot 

 dead in his room opposite mine before I could do 

 so. I had seen him sitting on his bed when I came 

 round to dress for dinner, and half-an-hour later we 

 had word that he had been shot with a revolver 

 twice in the throat by an Albanian whom he had 

 offended. Afterwards it was given out that he had 

 committed suicide from fear of arrest for embezzle- 

 ment. Which was the true version I do not know. 

 Before I left Albania I had seen the first White 

 Stork, Swallows, and Hoopoes on April 4. 



16 



