Робінзон Крузо
Fight Between Friday and a Bear
AndnowIbegantothinkofleavingmyeffectswiththiswomanandsettingoutforLisbon,andsototheBrazils.Butnowanotherscruplecameinmyway,andthatwasreligion; forIhadentertainedsomedoubtsabouttheRomanreligionevenwhileIwasabroad,especiallyinmystateofsolitude, soIknewtherewasnogoingtotheBrazilsforme,muchlessgoingtosettlethere,unlessIresolvedtoembracetheRomanCatholicreligionwithoutanyreserve; unlessontheotherhandIresolvedtobeasacrificetomyprinciples,beamartyrforreligion,anddieintheInquisition. SoIresolvedtostayathome,andifIcouldfindmeansforit,todisposeofmyplantation.
TothispurposeIwrotetomyoldfriendatLisbon,whoinreturngavemenoticethathecouldeasilydisposeofitthere; butthatifIthoughtfittogivehimleavetoofferitinmynametothetwomerchants,thesurvivorsofmytrustees,wholivedintheBrazils,whomostfullyunderstandthevalueofit,wholivedjustuponthespot,andwhomIknewwereveryrich, sothathebelievedtheywouldbefondofbuyingit,hedidnotdoubtbutIshouldmake4,000or5,000piecesofeightthemoreofit.
AccordinglyIagreed,gavehimordertoofferittothem,andhedidso; andinabouteightmonthsmore,theshipbeingthenreturned,hesentmeanaccountthattheyhadacceptedtheoffer,andhadremitted33,000piecesofeighttoacorrespondentoftheirsatLisbontopayforit.
Inreturn,IsignedtheinstrumentofsaleintheformwhichtheysentfromLisbon,andsentittomyoldman,whosentmebillsofexchangefor32,800piecesofeighttome,fortheestate; reservingthepaymentof100moidoresayeartohim,theoldman,duringhislife,and50moidoresafterwardstohissonforthislife,whichIhadpromisedthem,whichtheplantationwastomakegoodasarent-charge.
