"Yes," he replied; "I have been living here for a month. But you are welcome. I want to do good deeds if I may. I want to atone."
"Have you done anything so bad, then," I asked, "else why do you wish to atone?"
He looked at me eagerly for a few seconds; then, without speaking, he put two pans on the fire, first of all filling them with water. After this he placed the fish in one of the pans, and waited while the water boiled.
"What is your name, young man?" he asked presently.
"Jasper Pennington."
"Of Pennington?"
"Yes; what do you know about it?"
"I knew of a family of that name long years ago. Pennington of Pennington. Why are you in this plight?"
"Because I have been robbed of my birthright," I replied, bitterly.
"By whom?"