"Ah"--the Hungarian lady broke into a hard laugh--"then he has not told you his Christian name." "I will tell her now," said Hench, taking Gwen's cold hand, and speaking with an effort. "This lady is Madame Alpenny, who lived in the same boarding-house as I did in Bethnal Green." "But what had she to do with my father, and what has she to do with you?" "I think your Christian name will explain all in one word," remarked Madame Alpenny, looking up at the blue sky. "I intended to tell you myself, Gwen, this very morning," cried Hench, striving to preserve his calmness, which was sorely shaken. "Tell me what?" said Gwen, who was very white and unstrung. "That my Christian name is--Owain." "Owain----?" "Owain Evans," said Madame Alpenny sharply. "Let there be an end to his deceit, Mademoiselle. He is your cousin, the same who has robbed you of your heritage, the same who has----" "Hold your tongue!" interrupted Hench fiercely. "It is for Miss Evans to speak and not you." "_Miss_ Evans," sneered the woman, with sparkling eyes. "Why so, when you called her by her Christian name lately, as she can now call you by yours? Oh, it is very well, very well indeed, this bal masque of lies and wickedness." By this time, Gwen, who had been staring silently at Hench, spoke in a low tone, but in so absolutely unemotional a manner that he could not tell what her feelings were. "Are you really my cousin?" "Yes! I knew that you were prejudiced against me owing to the false stories told to you by your father, therefore I wished to make your acquaintance under the name my father took when he was sent away from home. Until a few weeks ago I believed it was my true name. Don't blame me over-much, Gwen," he implored. "After all, I wouldn't have had a fair chance had I come as your cousin." "Perhaps not," she said softly, and a touch of colour came into her face. "And after all, you saved my life." "No! No! Let us put all obligation out of the question!" cried Hench resolutely. "I wish to be judged on my merits." "That will be difficult, seeing what a hero you are," said Madame Alpenny in a hatefully smooth voice. "Hold your tongue!" cried Gwen, turning on her just as Hench had done. "You came down here to make mischief this time, as you came before to make mischief. How you succeeded before you best know yourself, although I truly believe that your last visit had something to do with my father's death." "It is a lie!" said Madame Alpenny fiercely, and stepped forward. Gwen did the same, and the two were face to face, very close indeed to one another. "I believe that it is the truth. But of that we can talk later. As to making mischief this time, you shan't succeed. I quite understand why my cousin wished to give himself a chance of being judged fairly. And, after all, he came under the name his father used for many years." "Oh, Gwen"--Hench caught her hand--"do you forgive me?"