Owain rang for a fresh cup and saucer. "I thought you wouldn't condescend to eat and drink with a pariah." "Fudge!" said Mrs. Perage again, and very sharply. "Who said you were a pariah, you silly fellow? That's merely hurt vanity on your part." "How can I help being hurt, when I am so misjudged?" "Look here." Mrs. Perage bent forward and shook his shoulder. "Are you a man or a twopenny-halfpenny school-girl?" "I'm an ass," confessed Owain, ashamed of his petty outbreak. "But I have an attack of nerves, I think, owing to my dreadful position." "Hum!" Mrs. Perage rubbed her nose, received a cup and saucer from Mrs. Bell, who had just entered the room, and sent that fragile person out again. "Jim hinted at trouble. It seems he was right." "Jim knows all about it." "Well, then, I don't. Wait till I fill my cup and then you can tell me." "Tell you what?" "Drat the man, you know. It's more than this trouble with Gwen you have to tell me about." "I think that I had better tell you about the trouble with Gwen first." "What's the use of beginning at the wrong end? Relate the story from start to finish and then I'll understand more about this interview in the churchyard with this ridiculous old woman." "Madame Alpenny." "Hum! The name fits her. Go on." "I have already told you most of my life---" "And have left out the most interesting part, apparently. See here, Hench, or rather, I should say, Owain." Mrs. Perage drank some of her tea and continued slowly. "I am an old woman with a romantic heart. I love Gwen and I have taken a fancy to you. Both you and Gwen come of a bad stock, as old Mynydd Evans was a miser, Owain Evans was a profligate, and Madoc Evans was a scoundrel, fit for any deed of wickedness. You two children are the best of the bunch, and I expect get your decent morals from your mothers. I want to see you happy and married. Now, don't disappoint me." "I certainly won't, if Gwen won't," said Owain promptly. "Hum! Gwen is a more difficult person to manage. However, if you leave it to me, I think in some way things will be put right." "Oh, I shall leave everything to you, with pleasure," said Hench eagerly. "And I thank you for the trouble you are taking. Your advice----" "Cannot be given further until I am in possession of facts," interrupted Mrs. Perage, and finishing his sentence in a different way. "I know that you are Owain's son and inherit the property. I know that you love Gwen, and that it is possible, in spite of existing circumstances, that you will marry her. Also I am aware that Madoc was murdered--by that tramp, I presume." "No!" said Hench sharply, and ready to make a clean breast. "I am the tramp." "Ha!" exclaimed the old lady in a tone of surprise. "You are the tramp? Well, I withdraw my accusation, as I am sure you are innocent enough. But what I was coming to when you interrupted me was that I wish to know more. Jim says you are in trouble." "In very great trouble. And if you will help me---"