Stillitwasbinding，morebindingindeedthaninthiscountry，beingamarriageinallexceptinfact。
　　Butthosewomenwhoarethusboundforthemostpartbearnowife’sloveintheirhearts，andsoitwaswithyourmother。
　　IndeedshebothhatedandfearedhercousinJuan，thoughI
　　thinkthathelovedhermorethananythingonearth，andbyonepretextandanothershecontrivedtobringhimtoanagreementthatnomarriageshouldbecelebratedtillshewasfulltwentyyearsofage。
　　Butthecoldershewastohim，themorewasheinflamedwithdesiretowinherandalsoherpossessions，whichwerenotsmall，forlikeallSpaniardshewaspassionate，andlikemostgamestersandmenofevillife，muchinwantofmoney。
　　’Nowtobebrief，fromthefirstmomentthatyourmotherandIseteyesoneachotherwelovedoneanother，anditwasouronedesiretomeetasoftenasmightbe；andinthiswehadnogreatdifficulty，forhermotheralsofearedandhatedJuandeGarcia，hernephewbymarriage，andwouldhaveseenherdaughterclearofhimifpossible。
　　TheendofitwasthatItoldmylove，andaplotwasmadebetweenusthatweshouldflytoEngland。
　　ButallthishadnotescapedtheearsofJuan，whohadspiesinthehousehold，andwasjealousandrevengefulasonlyaSpaniardcanbe。
　　Firsthetriedtoberidofmebychallengingmetoaduel，butwewerepartedbeforewecoulddrawswords。
　　ThenhehiredbravostomurdermeasIwalkedthestreetsatnight，butIworeachainshirtbeneathmydoubletandtheirdaggersbrokeuponit，andinplaceofbeingslainIslewoneofthem。
　　Twicebaffled，deGarciawasnotdefeated。
　　Fightandmurderhadfailed，butanotherandsurermeansremained。
　　Iknownothow，buthehadwonsomecluetothehistoryofmylife，andofhowIhadbrokenoutfromthemonastery。
　　Itwaslefttohim，therefore，todenouncemetotheHolyOfficeasarenegadeandaninfidel，andthishedidonenight；itwasthenightbeforethedaywhenweshouldhavetakenship。
　　IwassittingwithyourmotherandhermotherintheirhouseatSeville，whensixcowledmenenteredandseizedmewithoutaword。
　　WhenIprayedtoknowtheirpurposetheygavenootheranswerthantoholdacrucifixbeforemyeyes。
　　ThenIknewwhyIwastaken，andthewomenceasedclingingtomeandfellbacksobbing。
　　SecretlyandsilentlyIwashurriedawaytothedungeonsoftheHolyOffice，butofallthatbefellmethereIwillnotstoptotell。
　　’TwiceIwasracked，onceIwassearedwithhotirons，thriceIwasfloggedwithwirewhips，andallthiswhileIwasfedonfoodsuchasweshouldscarcelyoffertoadoghereinEngland。
　　Atlengthmyoffenceofhavingescapedfromamonasteryandsundryblasphemies，so-called，beingprovedagainstme，Iwascondemnedtodeathbyfire。
　　’Thenatlast，whenafteralongyearoftormentandofhorror，I
　　hadabandonedhopeandresignedmyselftodie，helpcame。
　　OntheeveofthedayuponwhichIwastobeconsumedbyflame，thechiefofmytormentorsenteredthedungeonwhereIlayonstraw，andembracingmebademebeofgoodcheer，forthechurchhadtakenpityonmyyouthandgivenmemyfreedom。
　　AtfirstIlaughedwildly，forIthoughtthatthiswasbutanothertorment，andnottillIwasfreedofmyfetters，clothedindecentgarments，andsetatmidnightwithouttheprisongates，wouldIbelievethatsogoodathinghadbefallenmethroughthehandofGod。
　　Istoodweakandwonderingoutsidethegates，notknowingwheretofly，andasI
　　stoodawomanglideduptomewrappedinadarkcloak，whowhispered“Come。“
　　Thatwomanwasyourmother。
　　ShehadlearnedofmyfatefromtheboastingofdeGarciaandsetherselftosaveme。
　　Thriceherplansfailed，butatlengththroughthehelpofsomecunningagent，goldwonwhatwasdeniedtojusticeandtomercy，andmylifeandlibertywereboughtwithaverygreatsum。
　　’ThatsamenightweweremarriedandfledforCadiz，yourmotherandI，butnothermother，whowasbedriddenwithasickness。
　　Formysakeyourbelovedmotherabandonedherpeople，whatremainedtoherofherfortuneafterpayingthepriceofmylife，andhercountry，sostrongistheloveofwoman。
　　Allhadbeenmadeready，foratCadizlayanEnglishship，the“Mary“ofBristol，inwhichpassagewastakenforus。
　　Butthe“Mary“wasdelayedinportbyacontrarywindwhichblewsostronglythatnotwithstandinghisdesiretosaveus，hermasterdarednottakethesea。
　　Twodaysandanightwelayintheharbour，fearingallthingsnotwithoutcause，andyetmosthappyineachother’slove。
　　NowthosewhohadchargeofmeinthedungeonhadgivenoutthatIhadescapedbythehelpofmymastertheDevil，andIwassearchedforthroughoutthecountryside。
　　DeGarciaalso，findingthathiscousinandaffiancedwifewasmissing，guessedthatwetwowerenotfarapart。
　　Itwashiscunning，sharpenedbyjealousyandhate，thatdoggedusdownstepbysteptillatlengthhefoundus。
　　’Onthemorningofthethirdday，thegalehavingabated，theanchorofthe“Mary“wasgothomeandsheswungoutintothetideway。
　　Asshecameroundandwhiletheseamenweremakingreadytohoistthesails，aboatcarryingsometwentysoldiers，andfollowedbytwoothers，shotalongsideandsummonedthecaptaintoheaveto，thathisshipmightbeboardedandsearchedunderwarrantfromtheHolyOffice。
　　ItchancedthatIwasondeckatthetime，andsuddenly，asIpreparedtohidemyselfbelow，aman，inwhomI
　　knewdeGarciahimself，stoodupandcalledoutthatIwastheescapedhereticwhomtheysought。
　　Fearinglesthisshipshouldbeboardedandhehimselfthrownintoprisonwiththerestofhiscrew，thecaptainwouldthenhavesurrenderedme。
　　ButI，desperatewithfear，toremyclothesfrommybodyandshowedthecruelscarsthatmarkedit。
　　“’YouareEnglishmen，“Icriedtothesailors，“andwillyoudelivermetotheseforeigndevils，whoamofyourblood？
　　Lookattheirhandiwork，“andIpointedtothehalf-healedscarsleftbythered-hotpincers；“ifyougivemeup，yousendmebacktomoreofthistormentandtodeathbyburning。
　　Pitymywifeifyouwillnotpityme，orifyouwillpityneither，thenlendmeaswordthatbydeathImaysavemyselffromtorture。“
　　’Thenoneoftheseamen，aSouthwoldmanwhohadknownmyfather，calledout:“ByGod！Iforonewillstandbyyou，ThomasWingfield。
　　Iftheywantyouandyoursweetladytheymustkillmefirst，“andseizingabowfromtherackhedrewitoutofitscaseandstrungit，andsettinganarrowonthestringhepointeditattheSpaniardsintheboat。
　　’Thentheothersbrokeintoshoutsof:
　　’“Ifyouwantanymanfromamongus，comeaboardandtakehim，youtorturingdevils，“andthelike。
　　’Seeingwheretheheartofthecrewlay，thecaptainfoundcourageinhisturn。
　　HemadenoanswertotheSpaniards，butbadehalfofthemenhoistthesailswithallspeed，andtherestmakereadytokeepoffthesoldiersshouldtheyseektoboardus。
　　’Bynowtheothertwoboatshadcomeupandfastenedontouswiththeirhooks。
　　Onemanclimbedintothechainsandthencetothedeck，andIknewhimforapriestoftheHolyOffice，oneofthosewhohadstoodbywhileIwastormented。
　　ThenIgrewmadatthethoughtofallthatIhadsuffered，whilethatdevilwatched，biddingthemlayonfortheloveofGod。
　　SnatchingthebowfromthehandoftheSouthwoldseaman，Idrewthearrowtoitsheadandloosed。
　　Itdidnotmissitsmark，forlikeyou，Thomas，Iwasskilledwiththebow，andhedivedbackintotheseawithanEnglishyardshaftinhisheart。
　　’Afterthattheytriedtoboardusnomore，thoughtheyshotatuswitharrows，woundingoneman。
　　Thecaptaincalledtoustolaydownourbowsandtakecoverbehindthebulwarks，forbynowthesailsbegantodraw。
　　ThendeGarciastoodupintheboatandcursedmeandmywife。
　　’“Iwillfindyouyet，“hescreamed，withmanySpanishoathsandfoulwords。
　　“IfImustwaitfortwentyyearsIwillbeavengeduponyouandallyoulove。
　　Beassuredofthis，LuisadeGarcia，hidewhereyouwill，Ishallfindyou，andwhenwemeet，youshallcomewithmeforsolongasIwillkeepyouorthatshallbethehourofyourdeath。“
　　’ThenwesailedawayforEngland，andtheboatsfellastern。
　　’Mysons，thisisthestoryofmyyouth，andofhowIcametowedyourmotherwhomIhaveburiedto-day。
　　JuandeGarciahaskepthisword。’
　　’Yetitseemsstrange，’saidmybrother，’thatafteralltheseyearsheshouldhavemurderedherthus，whomyousayheloved。
　　Surelyeventheevilestofmenhadshrunkfromsuchadeed！’
　　’Thereislittlethatisstrangeaboutit，’answeredmyfather。
　　’Howcanweknowwhatwordswerespokenbetweenthembeforehestabbedher？
　　DoubtlesshetoldofsomeofthemwhenhecriedtoThomasthatnowtheywouldseewhattruththerewasinprophecies。
　　WhatdiddeGarciaswearyearssince？——thatsheshouldcomewithhimorhewouldkillher。
　　Yourmotherwasstillbeautiful，Geoffrey，andhemayhavegivenherchoicebetweenflightanddeath。
　　Seektoknownomore，son’——andsuddenlymyfatherhidhisfaceinhishandsandbrokeintosobsthatweredreadfultohear。
　　’Wouldthatyouhadtoldusthistalebefore，father，’IsaidsosoonasIcouldspeak。
　　’Thentherewouldhavelivedadevilthelessintheworldto-day，andIshouldhavebeensparedalongjourney。’
　　LittledidIknowhowlongthatjourneywouldbe！
　　Withintwelvedaysoftheburialofmymotherandthetellingofthestoryofhismarriagetoherbymyfather，Iwasreadytostartuponmysearch。
　　AsitchancedavesselwasabouttosailfromYarmouthtoCadiz。
　　Shewasnamedthe’Adventuress，’ofonehundredtonsburden，andcarriedwoolandothergoodsoutwards，purposingtoreturnwithacargoofwineandyewstavesforbows。
　　Inthisvesselmyfatherboughtmeapassage。
　　Moreover，hegavemefiftypoundsingold，whichwasasmuchasIwouldriskuponmyperson，andobtainedlettersfromtheYarmouthfirmofmerchantstotheiragentsinCadiz，inwhichtheywereadvisedtoadvancemesuchsumsasImightneeduptoatotalofonehundredandfiftyEnglishpounds，andfurthertoassistmeinanywaythatwaspossible。
　　Nowtheship’Adventuress’wastosailonthethirddayofJune。
　　Alreadyitwasthefirstofthatmonth，andthateveningImustridetoYarmouth，whithermybaggagehadgonealready。
　　Exceptonemyfarewellsweremade，andyetthatwastheoneImostwishedtomake。
　　SincethedaywhenwehadswornourtrothIhadgainednosightofLilyexceptonceatmymother’sburial，andthenwehadnotspoken。
　　NowitseemedthatImustgowithoutanypartingword，forherfatherhadsentmenoticethatifIcameneartheHallhisservingmenhadorderstothrustmefromthedoor，andthiswasashamethatIwouldnotrisk。
　　YetitwashardthatImustgouponsolongajourney，whenceitwellmightchanceIshouldnotreturn，andbidhernogoodbye。
　　InmygriefandperplexityIspoketomyfather，tellinghimhowthematterstoodandaskinghishelp。
　　’Igohence，’Isaid，’toavengeourcommonloss，andifneedbetogivemylifeforthehonourofourname。
　　Aidmetheninthis。’
　　’MyneighbourBozardmeanshisdaughterforyourbrotherGeoffrey，andnotforyou，Thomas，’heanswered；’andamanmaydowhathewillswithhisown。
　　StillIwillhelpyouifIcan，attheleasthecannotdrivemefromhisdoor。
　　Bidthembringhorses，andwewillridetotheHall。’
　　Withinthehalfofanhourwewerethere，andmyfatheraskedforspeechwithitsmaster。