"Howel's men," he answered. "They took my goods at the ford of Caerau yonder, and so brought me here and left me. That was early this morning."
"I marvel that you bided in reach of any who might speak with me," I said.
"My comrades left me, for fear of that same. I must hire ponies to get the goods away. I thought you had died on the wild sea that night."
"It seems to me that this is but justice on you. The goods you have lost were stolen from honest men. And it were just if I left you bound as you bound me."
Then the man said slowly: "Ay, it is justice. But will you treat me even as I treated you, Thane?"
I looked at him in some wonder. The man's face had grown calm, though it was yet grey and drawn, and this seemed as if he would own his fault without excuse. I minded that Nona the princess and her father, ay, and Thorgils, had said that they thought well of Evan the merchant up till this time.
"Supposing I let you go--What then?" I said.
"First of all, I would tell you somewhat for which you will thank me, Thane."
"Tell me that first," I said, not altogether believing that he had anything which could be worth my hearing, but with a full mind now to let him go.
Plainly, he had some sort of faith in me, or in the worth of what he had to say, for he began eagerly: