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。