Робінзон Крузо
Return to England
SoIfirstreturnedtohimthehundredmoidoresIhadreceivedofhim; thenIsentforanotary,andcausedhimtodrawupageneralreleaseordischargeforthe470moidoreswhichhehadacknowledgedheowedmeinthefullestandfirmestmannerpossible; afterwhichIcauseaprocurationtobedrawn,empoweringhimtobemyreceiveroftheannualprofitsofmyplantation,andappointingmypartnertoaccounttohim,andmakethereturnsbytheusualfleetstohiminmyname; andaclauseintheend,beingagrantof100moidoresayeartohim,duringhislife,outoftheeffects,and50moidoresayeartohissonafterforhislife; andthusIrequitedmyoldman.
Iwasnowtoconsiderwhichwaytosteermycoursenext,andwhattodowiththeestatethatProvidencehasthusputintomyhands; and,indeed,IhadmorecareuponmyheadnowthanIhadinmysilentstateoflifeintheisland,whereIwantednothingbutwhatIhad,andhadnothingbutwhatIwanted;whereasIhadnowagreatchargeuponme,andmybusinesswashowtosecureit. Ihadneeracavenowtohidemymoneyin,oraplacewhereitmightliewithoutlockorkeytillitgrewmouldyandtarnishedbeforeanybodywouldmeddlewithit. Onthecontrary,Iknewnotwheretoputit,orwhomtotrustwithit. Myoldpatron,thecaptain,indeed,washonest,andthatwastheonlyrefugeIhad.
Inthenextplace,myinterestintheBrazilsseemedtosummonmethither; butnowIcouldnottellhowtothinkofgoingthithertillIhadsettledmyaffairs,andleftmyaffectsinsomesafehandsbehindme. AtfirstIthoughtofmyoldfriendthewidowwhoIknewwashonest,andwouldbejusttome; butthenshewasinyears,andbutpoor,andforaughtIknewmightbeindebt; sothat,inaword,IhadnowaybuttogobacktoEnglandmyself,andtakemyeffectswithme.
