第47部分(第1/7 頁)

“None　at　all；　my　darling。”

“Fine； then。 My guardian has no claims of money or gold on you。 Please

excuse the impropriety of my discussing marital circumstances on my own

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behalf；　but　I　have　certain　prerequisites　that　I　must；　unfortunately；　explain　to

you。”

As　I　fell　silent　for　a　while；　Black　said；　“Yes；”　in　a　manner　that　suggested　an

apology　for　his　hesitation。

“First；”　I　began；　“you　must　swear　before　two　witnesses　that　if　you　behave

badly　toward　me　in　our　marriage；　to　a　degree　that　I　find　unbearable；　or　if　you

take a second wife； you will grant me a divorce with alimony。 Second； you

must swear before two witnesses that if for whatever reason you are absent

from　the　house　for　more　than　a　six…month　period　without　a　visit；　I　will　also　be

granted　a　divorce　with　alimony。　Third；　after　we　are　married；　you　will　of　course

move　into　my　home；　however；　until　the　villain　who　has　murdered　my　father

has　been　caught　or　until　you　find　him—how　I’d　love　to　torture　him　myself！—

and until Our Sultan’s book； pleted under the guidance of your talents

and　efforts；　has　been　honorably　presented　to　Him；　you　will　not　share　my　bed。

Fourth；　you　will　love　my　sons；　who　do　share　my　bed　with　me；　as　if　they　were

your　own　children。”

“I　agree。”

“Good。　If　all　of　the　obstacles　that　still　lie　before　us　disappear　this　quickly；

we’ll　soon　be　wed。”

“Yes；　wed；　but　not　in　the　same　bed。”

“The　first　step　is　marriage；”　I　said。　“Let’s　see　to　that　first。　Love　es　after

marriage。 Don’t forget： Marriage douses love’s flame； leaving nothing but a

barren and melanchol