"And how is that?"
"Very simple. First we start by selling these jewels."she said. "Do you know anyone who would be interested in buying them?"
"They're very expensive."
"That's just the point. And I do hope to get as much as possible out of them. Some of them were worn by royalty."
"You are royalty."said Lance.
"Well, yes, but you know what I mean."
"I don't think you'll find anyone who's able to them around here. The people are more worried about getting food than luxuries."
"Don't you have any friends who could help us?"
"Well..."
"Or is I sold them to you, I'll give you a discount."
He sighed.
"You might get more out of that eunuch of yours."
"Oh, no. I couldn't sell el Negro. He's priceless."
"I see. Well...just a second."
He came back with a lot of gold coins.
"I've never seen so much in my life!"exclaimed Toad.
"It's most of what I have."
"Nice!"exclaimed Fernanda.
"Where's the rest?"asked Pietro.
"And our first destination shall be..."Fernanda gave it some thought. "My uncle used to say que conocer Europa era el sueo de todo mundo! So, that would mean, it's Venice! No, Rome! Or Madrid! Well, we'll see where we can get first."
"And will all this pay for it?"
"Oh, it'll be more than enough to pay for it."
"What about when it runs out?"asked Lance.
"Then we get more."
"How?"
"I have more jewels, and besides, we'd just need another income. It could be anything. After all, you're rather...well, you exel at stealing. That should be something."she giggled.
"You're going into a life of crime?"
Fernanda shrugged.
"Why not? If that's the only solution? But I don't think we'll have to resort to that."
"And what else can you do?"
"Why, by painting, and designing, of course."she said. "I can paint very well. I've never been fond of doing people, but I can do portraits, anyway. And one of my governesses always said I excelled in landscapes, and animals, of course. She said they could sell for millions!"
"That's not a bad idea."
"But neither of these boys are related to you. If you want to become someone everyone knows about, don't you think you'd have to live, um...well, properly."
"You're right. I've thought that through, also. That's one thing on which I agree with my aunt on. I have to get married. Only not to Fernando Ortiz, although I did have a crush on him for so many years, but rather, to someone else."
"I don't know who you'll find."
"I've already found him."she said.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"He's sitting at this table."
"I thought you said you'd only met him once."said Blob.
"Don't listen to him. He's a little retarded. I can see why your friend was put to the bastinado."she said, glaring at Blob. "You really don't know whom?"
"I don't think I want to know."said Lance.
"Why not?"asked Pietro, who was very absorbded in the conversation. "Oh, but of course! I should have seen it before!"he exclaimed. "It must simply be my good looks."
"I'll have to admit you do look very handsome, Pietrito, but no, you're not really my type."
Pietro spat out his drink.
"What! You mean..."he looked at Toad and Blob.
"You three are really very retarded."
"Uh...I don't think that will work out very well."said Lance.
"Not those two."she told Pietro.
Everyone turned slowly to Lance.
"But of course it will work out!"exclaimed Pietro. "It makes so much sense now! See, you were the one who gave him that fine horse!"
"Of course. And it was at my insistence that my cousin went to ask you to work for my family. I wanted you to do it."she said. "Or rather, I wanted him to be there."
"I don't think..."
"Yes, yes, yes, yesyesyesyesyesyes!"Pietro kept saying. "We have to have the wedding as soon as possible! The sooner the safer, you know, and the better. Then we can get on our way!"he said, jumping up and down. "We already have the padrino here."he said.
"What do you say? I know it's most irregular, but what do you say?"she asked Lance.
"He says yes,of course."said Pietro.
"Yeah."said Taod.
"Definitely."said Blob.
"Well, I guess I'll have to answer, I accept, or something."said Lance.
They were married in the capilla at the hacienda, and soon with Julio's help, ready to board a boat headed towards Europe.
"I must say, that was quite an addition to my collection."said Julio, about the portrait Fernanda had painted of his fiancee.
"It was the least I could do."she said.
"Well, I wish you the best of luck."