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When the captain asked Athanas for his daughter's hand, he told him plainly that he could only marry if the wife's dowry was sufficient to keep house upon. Herr Brazovics made no objection. He was not going to be stingy about it: he meant to give his daughter a hundred thousand gulden on her wedding-day, and they could do as they liked with it.
Katschuka did him that favor too, and thus Athanas learned what portion would be bought by government. And that wretch of a Timar had really pitched on the place where the fort was to be built. "And what are to be the terms of the expropriation?" That was the question, and that the captain could not reveal without committing a capital crime. But he did it.
The owner, Athanas Brazovics, is a connection of mine; I have often shown him kindness, he can return it now. By a miracle we got safely through the rocks and whirlpools of the river, and eluded the pursuit of the Turkish brigantine, and now I stumble over a straw into my grave. "That man who followed us last evening was a spy of the Turkish government. He recognised me, and sealed my fate.
The crew all left the sinking craft, and Timar rescued Timéa, and with her the casket with the thousand ducats. Then the captain drove off with the fatherless girl to the house of Athanas Brazovics in the town of Komorn.
With so little money no one would marry her except some clerk or ship's captain, and then it would have been better for her to be brought up as a servant and not a lady. But Athanas would not hear of it; what would people say? At last they agree on a middle course; Timéa is not to be treated like a regular servant, but take the position of an adopted child.
He charged the mines, and threatened to blow the whole marriage citadel into the air if he did not have the money down before the wedding-day. Then a brilliant idea shot into the head of Athanas. Why not marry Athalie to Timar? The exchange would not be a bad one. It is true that he hated him and would like to poison him in a spoonful of soup.
"He told me to tell you that you must be present in person when the sacks are emptied, lest they should exchange the grain, for he had bought a very good quality." "Naturally I shall be there in person. How should I not be? And where is the ship with the grain?" "Below Almas, at the bottom of the Danube." But now Athanas thrust Timéa right away, and sprung up in a rage.
There he lighted his chibouque, and surrounded himself with such an atmosphere of smoke, that as he walked up and down he appeared and disappeared alternately, with his great starting, bloodshot eyes, like a huge cuttle-fish lying in wait for its prey. The prey did not keep him waiting long. As soon as Timar heard from Frau Sophie that Athanas wished to speak to him, he hastened to his room.
Tschorbadschi is a good friend of his even a connection by the mother's side. An extraordinary event! One can fancy how Herr Athanas threw his chair back when the servant brought him the news that Herr Timar had just arrived with a beautiful young lady, and under his arm a gilt casket.
At first Athanas kissed Timéa very heartily, but when he learnt that his vessel was lost, and all Timéa's property, except the thousand ducats, and the wheat sacks now spoilt by water he altered his tune. He and his wife Sophie decided that Timéa should live with them as an adopted child, and at the same time attend on their daughter Athalie as a waiting-maid.
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