"Mr. Hench will give you nothing, mother," said Zara in a cold tone of displeasure. "I came down here to say good-bye to him and to take you out of his life. Mr. Hench,"--she faced round to Owain,--"my husband and I are going to America, where I have obtained a good engagement. My mother goes back to Hungary, and I will send her money to support her. Therefore it will not be necessary for you to give me that thousand pounds." "I wish to give it to you as a mark of my esteem," insisted Hench, and Gwen endorsed this speech. "I do not wish my wife to take it," said Bracken, advancing to hold out his hand. "Good-bye, Mr. Evans, we have been here long enough. We shall always remember your kindness with gratitude." Owain shook the extended hand. "But I wish you would take the money, Bracken." "Ah, but do!" cried Madame Alpenny, feverishly greedy. "I can double it at cards. I am so lucky, I want to----" "Come away, mother," interrupted Zara, dragging her towards the door. "Mr. Hench will not give you a single penny!" "Ingrate!" shouted Madame, turning at the door, out of which she was going, held firmly by Zara and Bracken. "After all I have done. Ach! the wickedness of the evil one. I gave him thousands, and he--he, the beast--the-----" Here she was dragged into the hall by her scandalized daughter, and those in the drawing-room heard her voice loudly lamenting all the way down the avenue. In this manner was the Hungarian lady rewarded for her scheming. She did not benefit in the least. "I'm glad she's gone," said Gwen, drawing a deep breath. "I don't like her." "Nor do I," said Owain, pulling the girl down beside him. "She nearly got me into the dock. But I am bound to say that she ran an equal risk from poor Spruce." "Poor Spruce, indeed!" cried Vane, turning from the window where he was watching the protesting Madame Alpenny being dragged down the avenue. "Why say good of a man who did nothing but evil?" "Don't be hard on him, Jim. After all, he has paid the penalty of his crime by suffering a terrible death." "You're a good chap, Owain, so I won't say another word. But never mention his name to me again if you I can help." "We'll never mention anything about the past if we can help," said Gwen, as Owain slipped his arm round her. "Now all these people have gone let us try and forget them." "Oh, you'll forget right enough," said Vane, smiling. "When you marry Owain you will think of nothing but him." "He saved my life!" cried the future Mrs. Evans defiantly. "In return you have saved mine," murmured Owain. "Had you not nursed me back to life and love, where should I have been now? But the clouds have disappeared, my dear, and now the sunshine of life is ours. In three weeks we will get married quietly and go abroad for a year. Afterwards we can return to take up our position here." "And you will go back to your old home, Miss Evans," said Vane, laughing. "Not much change about that."