The gypsy looked at him questioningly. "It is as you say, sir. They were brothers of the hills. When the houses burned and the women ran from the soldiers, then men said it is Zallony and the English lord. There was another with them. He is in prison now--he who was my father's friend. Sir, I come to England to give him liberty." Gavin was greatly interested. He drained the little cup of coffee, and, filling a pipe slowly, he said: "What forbids your success?" Zallony's son looked him straight in the face. "A lady known to us--she may forbid it, sir." "You cannot mean the Lady Evelyn?" "We will not speak of names. You have her confidence. Say to her that when she is false to my friend, Count Odin, I will kill her." "But that is nonsense. What has she to do with it? Your affair is with the Earl, her father. Why do you speak of her?" "Because there is only one door by which my father's friend can win his liberty. Let Georges Odin's son marry an Englishwoman and my Government will release him." "That is your view. Do you forget his Excellency's influence? Why should he not petition the Government at Bukharest for this man's liberty?" "Because, in that case, his own life would be in danger. We are a people that never forgets. I have told you so. If Georges Odin were at liberty, he would cross the world to find his enemy. That is our nature. We love and hate as an Eastern people should. The man who does us a wrong must repay, whoever he is. It would be different if the young Count had an English wife. That is why I wish it." Gavin smiled almost imperceptibly. "It is quite clear that you know little of England," he said. "This language suits your own country very well. Permit me to say that it is ridiculous in ours. If Lord Melbourne had any hand in your friend's imprisonment, which I doubt, he is hardly likely to be influenced by threats. I should say that you are going the wrong way to work. As to the Lady Evelyn, I will tell you that she will never be the wife of one of your countrymen. If you ask a reason, it is a personal one, and before you now. She is going to marry me. It is just as well that we should understand as much at once." The gypsy heard the news as one who had expected to hear it. He smoked for a little while in silence. Then he said: "I appreciate the courtesy of your admission. That which I thought it necessary to tell you at first, I must now repeat ... this lady is the betrothed of my friend, Count Odin. I remain in England as the guardian of his honor. If you are wise, you will leave the house without further warning. My friend is absent, and until he is here I must speak for him. We do not know you and wish you no harm. Let this affair end as it began. You would be foolish to do otherwise." Gavin heard the threat without any sign of resentment whatever.