or I gathered that others which I had sent
had never reached England, and told them of my resolution to follow de
Garcia to the ends of the earth.

'Others,' I wrote to Lily, 'may think me a madman thus to postpone, or
perchance to lose, a happiness which I desire above anything on earth,
but you who understand my heart will not blame me, however much you may
grieve for my decision. You will know that when once I have set my mind
upon an object, nothing except death itself can turn me from it, and
that in this matter I am bound by an oath which my conscience will
not suffer me to break. I could never be happy even at your side if I
abandoned my search now. First must come the toil and then the rest,
first the sorrow and then the joy. Do not fear for me, I feel that I
shall live to return again, and if I do not return, at least I am
able to provide for you in such fashion that you need never be married
against your will. While de Garcia lives I must follow him.'

To my brother Geoffrey I wrote very shortly, telling him what I thought
of his conduct in persecuting an undefended maiden and striving to do
wrong to an absent brother. I have heard that my letter pleased him very
ill.

And here I may state that those letters and everything else that I
sent came safely to Yarmouth. There the gold and goods were taken to
Lowestoft and put aboard a wherry, and when he had discharged his ship,
Captain Bell sailed up the Waveney with them till he brought them to
Bungay Staithe and thence to the house of Dr. Grimstone in Nethergate
Street. Here were gathered my sister and brother, for my father was then
two months buried--and also Squire Bozard and his son and daughter, for
Captain Bell had advised them of his coming by messenger, and when all
the tale was told there was wonder and to spare. Still greater did it
grow when the chests were opened and the weight of bullion compared with
that set out in my letters, for there had never been so much gold at
once in Bungay within the memory of man.

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 with