\"Blanche,\"Isaidwhenhehaddone,\"youhaveheard。Isthistrue？\"
\"Muchofitistrue,\"sheansweredinthatstrange,coldvoice,stillstaringatthefire。\"OnlythemarriagewasafalseonebywhichIwasdeceived。HewhocelebrateditwasacompanionoftheLordDeleroytrickedoutasapriest。\"
\"Donotletuswrangleofthismatter,\"saidDeleroy。\"Amanwhomixeswiththeworldlikeyourself,Mastermerchant,willknowthatwomeninatraprarelylackexcuses。Stillifitbeadmittedthatthismarriagedidnotfulfilallformalities,thensomuchthebetterforBlancheandmyself。Ifshebeyourlawfulwifeandnotmine,you,Ilearn,havesignedawritinginherfavourunderwhichshewillinherityourgreatwealth。ThatindentureIthinkyoucanfindnoopportunitytodispute,andifyoudoIhaveapromisethatthepropertyofacertaintraitorshallpasstome,therevealerofhistreachery。Letitconsoleyouinyourlastmoments,Mastermerchant,torememberthattheladywhomyouhavehonouredwithyourfancywillpassherdaysinwealthandcomfortinthecompanyofhimwhomshehashonouredwithherlove。\"
\"Draw！\"IsaidbrieflyasIunsheathedmysword。
\"WhyshouldIfightwithabase,tradingusurer？\"heasked,stillmockingme,thoughIthoughtthattherewasdoubtinhisvoice。