BLACKMAIL
After the reconciliation between the lovers nothing remained but to go into the garden and announce that Mademoiselle Zara's errand had been wholly successful. Gwen was now quite amiably disposed towards her rival, and was indeed very thankful to her for the peacemaking explanation. Along with Hench she went into the hot sunshine, and as they walked across the lawns towards the glade where they were likely to find the others, Owain warned Gwen that Zara was wholly ignorant of her mother's schemes. "Only you and I, Mrs. Perage and Jim Vane, know about her accusation," said the young man seriously. "So don't hint a word of the business to Zara."
"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?"