"Oh, not very far from Tregaron."
"And what kind of place is Tregaron?"
"Oh, very good place; not quite so big as London but very good
place."
"What is it famed for?" said I,
"Oh, famed for very good ham; best ham at Tregaron in all Shire
Cardigan."
"Famed for anything else?"
"Oh yes! famed for great man, clever thief, Twm Shone Catti, who
was born there."
"Dear me!" said I; "when did he live?"
"Oh, long time ago, more than two hundred year."
"And what became of him?" said I; "was he hung?"
"Hung, no! only stupid thief hung. Twm Shone clever thief; died
rich man, justice of the peace and mayor of Brecon."
"Very singular," said I, "that they should make a thief mayor of
Brecon."
"Oh Twm Shone Catti very different from other thieves; funny
fellow, and so good-natured that everybody loved him - so they made
him magistrate, not, however, before he had become very rich man by
marrying great lady who fell in love with him."
"Ah, ah," said I; "that's the way of the world. He became rich, so
they made him a magistrate; had he remained poor they would have
hung him in spite of all his fun and good-nature. Well, can't you
tell me some of the things he did?"
"Oh yes, can tell you plenty.
