The ship
was put out of commission, though, for the present, we determined not
to sell her. Hartog promised himself a spell ashore, and I also looked
forward to a life of ease and recreation. I was now a rich man, with
more wealth to my credit than would satisfy my simple needs for the
remainder of my life. Why then, I asked myself, should I seek further
peril and adventure in unknown lands to gain money of which I already
possessed more than I knew what to do with?
I did not return to my estate, which had become distasteful to me,
recalling, as it did, the brief span of nuptial happiness which I had
enjoyed with Anna, and when, later, my father-in-law, the Count of
Holstein, offered to buy it from me, I was glad to sell it to him. With
a portion of my capital I now secured a full share in the business of
De Decker, my old master, and, having purchased a fine house at
Amsterdam, I resolved to settle down to the lucrative business of a
merchant.
Before taking possession of my new home I paid a visit to my family at
Urk, where I found that my father had retired from the active
management of his fishing business, which was now carried on by my
eldest brother, who was married, and blessed with three sturdy boys.
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