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。
