It would have been a mercy.

Satan overheard the thought, and said: "I would have done it but for his wife, who has not offended me.

She is coming to him presently from their native land, Portugal.

She is well, but has not long to live, and has been yearning to see him and persuade him to go back with her next year.

She will die without knowing he can't leave that place." "He won't tell her ?" "He?
He will not trust that secret with any one; he will reflect that it could be revealed in sleep, in the hearing of some Portuguese guest's servant some time or other." "Did none of those natives understand what you said to him ?" "None of them understood, but he will always be afraid that some of them did.