So I stayed my horse and dismounted for a few minutes.
"Tell me, Evan," I said, "how came you into trouble at the first ?" "It is easy, Thane," he answered.

"I was Evan the chapman, and well known near and far in Cornwall and Dyvnaint as an honest man, even as I have seemed yet beyond the water.

Two years ago I slew the steward of this Tregoz in the open market place of Isca, and there was indeed little blame to me, for I did but protect my goods which he would have taken by force, and smote too hard.

Little order was there in that market if the king was not there, and Morgan and his friends were in the town.

Men have taken heart again since the coming back of Owen, for it was bad enough, as you may suppose by what happened to me.