she sat back while making a slight sweeping gesture with her hand towards the statue and said to me , minervar , ask him to play any song or tune you like , i laughed at her not believing what she asked , but was shocked when the little statue placed both his hands on his hips and bowed low to me , then giving a hop , skip and a jump that made the bells on his boots jingle and in a slight but melodious voice asked enquiringly , a request my lady minervar ?