So your ladyship will perceive that Juon Tare's
castle is provided with a very strong guardian against thieves and wild
beasts--but who can guard it against the wily and the insinuating? Fatia
Negra is a guest of longstanding at the hut in the ice valley, and never
goes thither empty handed. He brought the woman pearls and coral which
she innocently hung about her person. How was she to know whether such
trinkets were worth thousands or whether they could be bought in a
pedler's booth for a few pence? She fancies it is but the thank-offering
of a grateful guest. But now her eyes have been opened to the fact that
these gifts _are_ costly, very costly,--for the Black Mask demanded a
price for them which all the treasures in the world could not outweigh,
a price, the bare mention of which caused her to shut the door in his
face. And when he, unable to obtain his desire by fair words, attempted
to gain his object by force, a single cry for help from the woman caused
Fatia Negra to feel Ursu's paws on his shoulders and so he knows that
this lonely woman is right well defended. Only at Mariora's command did
the bear release Black Mask who, attacked from behind, was unable to
defend himself. Burning with rage, he quitted the hut and said,
meaningly to the woman: 'You shall be mine nevertheless!' Mariora came
to me next day, full of despair, telling me the whole story, and asking
me whether she ought to tell her husband.
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