The agony of the young man’s mind was visible in his countenance. It was with some difficulty that our hero recognized him; but in the same moment that he recalled him to his memory, he received him in the kindest manner, put him at his ease and made him sit down--I saw you ride into town, said the poor fellow, and I traced you to this house: I was a long time doubtful about venturing to ask for you; but you have an excellent character for kindness and benevolence to your inferiors, and the story of the poor soldier, who died in your house, encouraged me to believe, that the pity you bestowed upon a traveller and a stranger, you would not withhold from an ancient Briton and a neighbour: Besides, sir, I remember when my father Robin Ap Rees performed at Kray Castle, and sister and I came upon the platform in the great hall with him--Yes, sure enough, I remember how good you was to my poor Nancy, when shame overcame her, and she was like to faint--Ah, sir, worse shame has overcome her now: the direst villain breathing has undone her: she is crazed; she has attempted her own life; she is dying: that Jew David Owen is her murderer: but I’ll follow him through the world; he is out of the law’s reach, but not out of mine: as soon as I have laid poor Nancy in her grave, I’ll after him across the seas, and when, or wheresoever I can light upon him, that moment shall be his last. Stop, friend, said John De Lancaster, you let your passion run away with you, and don’t know what you are saying. I can guess the injury, that has been done to your sister, but what are the facts, that so particularly criminate Sir David Owen? Recite them simply, if you please; give me nothing but the truth exactly stated; no invective, Mr. Ap Rees, no aggravation. Why, you must know, sir, said the appellant, that after the old baronet’s death father wished for Nancy to go out to service; so there came a lady to the Abbey to visit Sir David, or Sir David’s mother, I can’t say which: she seemed to be mightily taken with Nancy, and being a single lady hired her to be about her person, promising to educate and take care of her. She seemed a motherly kind of person, sure enough, and very affable. So when the lady’s own chariot drove up to the door, and Nancy was told to step into it with her mistress, father thought, and so did I, that it was a famous thing for his daughter--Alas, a-day! There is no looking into people’s hearts. Little did we think, that it was all a deep-laid plot to ruin a poor Innocent. Proceed with your narrative, John repeated, and don’t digress into comments and remarks, that, if you want my assistance, only prevent me from tendering it to you by taking up my time unprofitably, and puzzling my understanding.