"Of course I won't," agreed Gwen readily. "But what steps are you going to take, Owain, in order to counterplot her?" "Madame Alpenny? Well, I haven't any idea in my head just now, and, at all events, she has given me a week to think over things. Let us leave matters as they are until to-morrow, and then we can call a council of war and see what is best to be done. There's no doubt that Madame Alpenny has me in a tight place." "She has," said Gwen cheerfully. "But we may be able to turn the tables on her." "In what way?" "I don't know," mused the girl. "It seems to me that this woman knows more about the death of my father than she will admit. She may be guilty herself." Hench shook his head. "I have some such idea myself, and yet it seems impossible. What had she to gain?" "A fortune through you," said Gwen promptly. "By means of that advertisement which brought you to the Gipsy Stile, she implicated you in the murder, which she may have executed before you arrived. Once under her thumb, she hoped to compel you to marry Zara, and so would have gained control of the money." "I am not under her thumb yet," said Hench grimly. "And what is more, I don't intend to be, strong as is her position. Whether she is guilty or innocent I can't say, as I am ignorant of her doings on the night of the first of July. But I should like to know, Gwen, why your father put that advertisement into the papers, and why he appointed the Gipsy Stile as the place of meeting?" "I can't explain," she answered doubtfully. "My father never said a word to me about the advertisement, or, indeed, about Madame Alpenny's visit. I asked him who she was and he told me to mind my own business." "Well, Madame Alpenny can explain, as I believe she suggested the advertisement dodge herself." Owain reflected for a moment. "There's something queer behind all this, Gwen, and when we learn what that something is, I daresay we will find out who murdered your father. And then----" "Hush," said Gwen suddenly, as they turned round the corner of a green alley which ran between high box hedges. "Here they are." As a matter of fact the lovers stumbled right into the centre of a group consisting of Mrs. Perage and her guests. They all appeared to be smiling, and the smiles grew very broad when the reconciled couple came towards them. Mrs. Perage caught Gwen by the shoulders and looked into her tell-tale blue eyes. "Is it all right, you nuisance?" she demanded gruffly. "All right!" assented Gwen, giving her a kiss. "Thanks to----" "To me," cried the dancer gaily. "I am the goddess of Peace." Hench took her hand and kissed it. "I can never thank you sufficiently." "I don't require thanks, Mr. Hench. But did I not tell you that when you really fell in love you would understand how wholly different it was to your feeling for me?" "You did, and I have learned the difference. Admiration is moonlight, and love is the most glowing of sunshine." "How poetical," said Vane with a shrug.