第17章

ThistidingsIhadgainedfromthedoomedlady，andIhavetoldherstoryatsomelengthbecauseitwasthroughitandherthatIcametojourneytoHispaniola，asitwasbecauseofthesacrificeofhertormentor，FatherPedro，bythepriestsoftheOtomiethatIamhereinEnglandthisday，sincehaditnotbeenforthatsacrificetheSpaniardswouldneverhavestormedtheCityofPines，where，aliveordead，Ishoulddoubtlesshavebeentothishour；forthusdoseemingaccidentsbuildupthefatesofmen。

HadthosewordsneverpassedIsabella’slips，doubtlessintimeIshouldhaveweariedofauselesssearchandsailedforhomeandhappiness。

Buthavingheardthemitseemedtome，tomyundoing，thatthiswouldbetoplaythepartofasorrycoward。

Moreover，strangeasitmaylook，nowIfeltasthoughI

hadtwowrongstoavenge，thatofmymotherandthatofIsabelladeSiguenza。

Indeednonecouldhaveseenthatyoungandlovelyladydiethusterriblyandnotdesiretowreakherdeathonhimwhohadbetrayedanddesertedher。

Sotheendofitwasthatbeingofastubborntemper，Ideterminedtodoviolencetomyowndesiresandthedyingcounselsofmybenefactor，andtofollowdeGarciatotheendsoftheearthandtheretokillhimasIhadsworntodo。

First，however，IinquiredsecretlyanddiligentlyastothetruthofthestatementthatdeGarciahadsailedfortheIndies，andtobebrief，havingtheclue，IdiscoveredthattwodaysafterthedateoftheduelIhadfoughtwithhim，amanansweringtodeGarcia’sdescription，thoughbearingadifferentname，hadshippedfromSevilleinacarakboundfortheCanaryIslands，whichcarakwastheretoawaitthearrivalofthefleetsailingforHispaniola。

IndeedfromvariouscircumstancesIhadlittledoubtthatthemanwasnoneotherthandeGarciahimself，which，althoughIhadnotthoughtofitbefore，wasnotstrange，seeingthatthenasnowtheIndiesweretherefugeofhalfthedesperadoesandvillainswhocouldnolongerliveinSpain。

ThitherthenImadeupmymindtofollowhim，consolingmyselfalittlebythethoughtthatatleastIshouldseenewandwonderfulcountries，thoughhownewandwonderfultheywereIdidnotguess。

Nowitremainedformetodisposeofthewealthwhichhadcometomesuddenly。

WhileIwaswonderinghowIcouldplaceitinsafetytillmyreturn，Iheardbychancethatthe’Adventuress’ofYarmouth，thesameshipinwhichIhadcometoSpainayearbefore，wasagainintheportofCadiz，andIbethoughtmethatthebestthingIcoulddowiththegoldandotherarticlesofvaluewouldbetoshipthemtoEngland，theretobeheldintrustforme。

Sohavingdespatchedamessagetomyfriendthecaptainofthe’Adventuress，’thatIhadfreightofvalueforhim，ImademypreparationstodepartfromSevillewithsuchspeedasImight，andtothisendIsoldmybenefactor’shouse，withmanyoftheeffects，atapricemuchbelowtheirworth。

Themostofthebooksandplate，togetherwithsomeotherarticles，Ikept，andpackingthemincases，IcausedthemtobetransporteddowntherivertoCadiz，tothecareofthosesameagentstowhomIhadreceivedlettersfromtheYarmouthmerchants。

ThisbeingdoneIfollowedthithermyself，takingthebulkofmyfortunewithmeingold，whichIhidartfullyinnumerouspackages。

AndsoitcametopassthatafterastayofayearinSeville，I

turnedmybackonitforever。

Mysojourntherehadbeenfortunate，forIcametoitpoorandleftitarichman，tosaynothingofwhatIhadgainedinexperience，whichwasmuch。

YetI

wasgladtobegone，forhereJuandeGarciahadescapedme，hereI

hadlostmybestfriendandseenIsabelladeSiguenzadie。

IcametoCadizinsafetyandwithoutlossofanyofmygoodsorgold，andtakingboatproceededonboardthe’Adventuress，’whereI

foundhercaptain，whosenamewasBell，ingoodhealthandverygladtoseeme。

Whatpleasedmemore，however，wasthathehadthreelettersforme，onefrommyfather，onefrommysisterMary，andonefrommybetrothed，LilyBozard，theonlyletterIeverreceivedfromher。

Thecontentsofthesewritingswerenotaltogetherpleasinghowever，forIlearnedfromthemthatmyfatherwasinbrokenhealthandalmostbedridden，andindeed，thoughIdidnotknowitformanyyearsafter，hediedinDitchinghamChurchupontheverydaythatIreceivedhisletter。

Itwasshortandsad，andinithesaidthathesorrowedmuchthathehadallowedmetogouponmymission，sinceheshouldseemenomoreandcouldonlycommendmetothecareoftheAlmighty，andprayHimformysafereturn。

AsforLily’sletter，which，hearingthatthe’Adventuress’wastosailforCadiz，shehadfoundmeanstodespatchsecretly，thoughitwasnotshortitwassadalso，andtoldmethatsosoonasmybackwasturnedonhome，mybrotherGeoffreyhadaskedherinmarriagefromherfather，andthattheypushedthematterstrongly，sothatherlifewasmadeamiserytoher，formybrotherwaylaidhereverywhere，andherfatherdidnotceasetorevileherasanobstinatejadewhowouldflingawayherfortuneforthesakeofapennilesswanderer。

’But，’itwenton，’beassured，sweetheart，thatunlesstheymarrymebyforce，astheyhavethreatenedtodo，Iwillnotbudgefrommypromise。

And，Thomas，shouldIbeweddedthusagainstmywill，Ishallnotbeawifeforlong，forthoughIamstrongIbelievethatIshalldieofshameandsorrow。

ItishardthatIshouldbethustormented，andforonereasononly，thatyouarenotrich。

StillIhavegoodhopethatthingsmaybetterthemselves，forIseethatmybrotherWilfredismuchinclinedtowardsyoursisterMary，andthoughhealsourgesthismarriageonmeto-day，sheisafriendtobothofusandmaybeinthewaytomaketermswithhimbeforesheacceptshissuit。’

Thenthewritingendedwithmanytenderwordsandprayersformysafereturn。

AsfortheletterfrommysisterMaryitwastothesamepurpose。

Asyet，shesaid，shecoulddonothingformewithLilyBozard，formybrotherGeoffreywasmadwithloveforher，myfatherwastooilltomeddleinthematter，andSquireBozardwasfiercelysetuponthemarriagebecauseofthelandsthatwereatstake。

Still，shehinted，thingsmightnotalwaysbeso，asatimemightcomewhenshecouldspeakupformeandnotinvain。

Nowallthisnewsgavememuchcauseforthought。

Moreindeed，itawokeinmealongingforhomewhichwassostrongthatitgrewalmosttoasickness。

HerlovingwordsandtheperfumethathungabouttheletterofmybetrothedbroughtLilybacktomeinsuchsortthatmyheartachedwithadesiretobewithher。

MoreoverI

knewthatIshouldbewelcomenow，formyfortunewasfargreaterthanmybrother’swouldeverbe，andparentsdonotshowthedoortosuitorswhobringmorethantwelvethousandgoldenpiecesintheirbaggage。

AlsoIwishedtoseemyfatheragainbeforehepassedbeyondmyreach。

ButstillbetweenmeandmydesirelaytheshadowofdeGarciaandmyoath。

IhadbroodedonvengeanceforsolongthatIfelteveninthemidstofthisstrongtemptationthatI

shouldhavenopleasureinmylifeifIforsookmyquest。

TobehappyImustfirstkilldeGarcia。

MoreoverIhadcometobelievethatdidIsoforsakeitthecursewhichIhadinvokedwouldsurelyfalluponme。

MeanwhileIdidthis。

GoingtoanotaryIcausedhimtoprepareadeedwhichItranslatedintoEnglish。

BythisdeedIvestedallmyfortuneexcepttwohundredpesosthatIkeptformyownuse，inthreepersonstoholdthesameonmybehalftillIcametoclaimit。

Thosethreepersonsweremyoldmaster，DoctorGrimstoneofBungay，whomIknewforthehonestestofmen，mysisterMaryWingfield，andmybetrothed，LilyBozard。

Idirectedthembythisdeed，whichforgreatervalidityIsignedupontheshipandcausedtobewitnessedbyCaptainBellandtwootherEnglishmen，todealwiththepropertyaccordingtotheirdiscretion，investingnotlessthanhalfofitinthepurchaseoflandsandputtingtherestouttointerest，whichinterestwiththerentofthelandswastobepaidtothesaidLilyBozardforherownuseforsolongassheremainedunmarried。

AlsowiththedeedIexecutedawillbywhichIdevisedthemostofmypropertytoLilyBozardshouldshebeunmarriedatthedateofmydeath，andtheresiduetomysisterMary。

IntheeventofthemarriageordeathofLily，thenthewholewastopasstoMaryandherheirs。

Thesetwodocumentsbeingsignedandsealed，Ideliveredthem，togetherwithallmytreasureandothergoods，intothekeepingofCaptainBell，charginghimsolemnlytohandthemandmypossessionstoDr。GrimstoneofBungay，bywhomhewouldbeliberallyrewarded。

Thishepromisedtodo，thoughnotuntilhehadurgedmealmostwithtearstoaccompanythemmyself。

WiththegoldandthedeedsIsentseveralletters；tomyfather，mysister，mybrother，Dr。Grimstone，SquireBozard，andlastlytoLilyherself。

IntheselettersIgaveanaccountofmylifeandfortunessinceIhadcometoSpain，forIgatheredthatotherswhichIhadsenthadneverreachedEngland，andtoldthemofmyresolutiontofollowdeGarciatotheendsoftheearth。

’Others，’IwrotetoLily，’maythinkmeamadmanthustopostpone，orperchancetolose，ahappinesswhichIdesireaboveanythingonearth，butyouwhounderstandmyheartwillnotblameme，howevermuchyoumaygrieveformydecision。

YouwillknowthatwhenonceIhavesetmyminduponanobject，nothingexceptdeathitselfcanturnmefromit，andthatinthismatterIamboundbyanoathwhichmyconsciencewillnotsuffermetobreak。

IcouldneverbehappyevenatyoursideifIabandonedmysearchnow。

Firstmustcomethetoilandthentherest，firstthesorrowandthenthejoy。

Donotfearforme，IfeelthatIshalllivetoreturnagain，andifIdonotreturn，atleastIamabletoprovideforyouinsuchfashionthatyouneedneverbemarriedagainstyourwill。

WhiledeGarcialivesImustfollowhim。’

TomybrotherGeoffreyIwroteveryshortly，tellinghimwhatI

thoughtofhisconductinpersecutinganundefendedmaidenandstrivingtodowrongtoanabsentbrother。

Ihaveheardthatmyletterpleasedhimveryill。

AndhereImaystatethatthoselettersandeverythingelsethatI

sentcamesafelytoYarmouth。

TherethegoldandgoodsweretakentoLowestoftandputaboardawherry，andwhenhehaddischargedhisship，CaptainBellsaileduptheWaveneywiththemtillhebroughtthemtoBungayStaitheandthencetothehouseofDr。

GrimstoneinNethergateStreet。

Hereweregatheredmysisterandbrother，formyfatherwasthentwomonthsburied——andalsoSquireBozardandhissonanddaughter，forCaptainBellhadadvisedthemofhiscomingbymessenger，andwhenallthetalewastoldtherewaswonderandtospare。

Stillgreaterdiditgrowwhenthechestswereopenedandtheweightofbullioncomparedwiththatsetoutinmyletters，fortherehadneverbeensomuchgoldatonceinBungaywithinthememoryofman。

AndnowLilywept，firstforjoybecauseofmygoodfortune，andthenforsorrowbecauseIhadnotcomewithmytreasure，andwhenhehadseenallandheardthedeedsreadbyvirtueofwhichLilywasarichwomanwhetherIlivedordied，theSquireherfathersworealoudandsaidthathehadalwaysthoughtwellofme，andkissedhisdaughter，wishingherjoyofherluck。

Inshortallwerepleasedexceptmybrother，wholeftthehousewithoutawordandstraightwaytooktoevilcourses。

Fornowthecupwasdashedfromhislips，seeingthathavingcomeintomyfather’slands，hehadbroughtitaboutthatLilywastobemarriedtohimbymightifnoothermeanswouldserve。

Forevennowamancanforcehisdaughterintomarriagewhilesheisunderage，andSquireBozardwasnotonetoshrinkfromsuchadeed，holdingashedidthatawoman’sfancieswereofnoaccount。

Butonthisday，sogreatisthepowerofgold，therewasnomoretalkofhermarryinganymanexceptmyself，indeedherfatherwouldhaveheldherbackfromsuchathinghadsheshownamindtoit，seeingthatthenLilywouldhavelostthewealthwhichIhadsettledonher。

ButalltalkedloudlyofmymadnessbecauseIwouldnotabandonthechaseofmyenemybutchosetofollowhimtothefarIndies，thoughSquireBozardtookcomfortfromthethoughtthatwhetherIlivedordiedthemoneywasstillhisdaughter’s。

OnlyLilyspokeupforme，saying’Thomashasswornanoathandhedoeswelltokeepit，forhishonourisatstake。

NowIgotowaituntilhecomestomeinthisworldorthenext。’

Butallthisisoutofplace，formanyayearpassedawaybeforeI

heardofthesedoings。