And now Lily wept, first for joy because of my good fortune, and then
for sorrow because I had not come with my treasure, and when he had seen
all and heard the deeds read by virtue of which Lily was a rich woman
whether I lived or died, the Squire her father swore aloud and said that
he had always thought well of me, and kissed his daughter, wishing her
joy of her luck. In short all were pleased except my brother, who left
the house without a word and straightway took to evil courses. For
now the cup was dashed from his lips, seeing that having come into my
father's lands, he had brought it about that Lily was to be married to
him by might if no other means would serve. For even now a man can force
his daughter into marriage while she is under age, and Squire Bozard
was not one to shrink from such a deed, holding as he did that a woman's
fancies were of no account. But on this day, so great is the power of
gold, there was no more talk of her marrying any man except myself,
indeed her father would have held her back from such a thing had she
shown a mind to it, seeing that then Lily would have lost the wealth
which I had settled on her. But all talked loudly of my madness because
I would not abandon the chase of my enemy but chose to follow him to
the far Indies, though Squire Bozard took comfort from the thought that
whether I lived or died the money was still his daughter's.
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