Lives of Alcyone

FORTY-SEVENTH LIFE 219
however, was rich, powerful, and a scion of a family which it was not
well to offend; so though Alcyone was absolutely determined that he
would not give his daughter to such a person, the refusal could not
be made as abrupt and decided as he would have wished it to be.
The undesirable suitor absolutely declined to take a negative
answer, and persisted in thrusting himself at all times and seasons
upon the poor girl, until his persecution became a nightmare to her.
Alcyone was at last driven to tell him in no measured terms
that his proposals could not under any circumstances be accepted,
and indeed to forbid him to enter the house. The man was violently
indignant, and swore, with much abusive language that not only
would he have the girl in spite of her father, but that his revenge
upon that father for daring to insult him should be one of no ordinary
character. Alcyone was much troubled about this affair, because,
although he could not possibly have done otherwise, he still knew
well that this man had powerful connections if he chose to use them,
and that a rich and unscrupulous man is always a dangerous
enemy. However, he heard nothing more of the matter for a time,
and he hoped that the undesirable suitor had had his fleeting fancy
attracted towards some other object.
But one night he heard screams proceeding from his
daughter’ s room, and, catching up a dagger and rushing in half-
dressed, he found the villain, with two other men to help him, in the
very act of carrying off his daughter, with evidence of peculiar
outrage. Though only thus partially armed, and only one against
three, he rushed at once upon the ravisher and stabbed him to the
heart. The other men fled, although one of them wounded him in his
flight. He could not seriously regret the act which had been forced