He could think of only one thing against it, the young man had drunk too much last night.
But there were certain breeds of heretics who did not mind drinking too much.

Also the best could slip sometimes, for, as he had learned from the old Castilian priest who taught him Latin, _humanum est_, etc.
This, then, was the summary of his reflections.

(1) That to save the situation, within three months or so he must be united in holy matrimony with Lysbeth van Hout.

(2) That if it proved impossible to remove the young man, Dirk van Goorl, from his path by overmatching him in the lady's affections, or by playing on her jealousy (Query: Could a woman be egged into becoming jealous of that flounder of a fellow and into marrying some one else out of pique ?), stronger measures must be adopted.

(3) That such stronger measures should consist of inducing the lady to save her lover from death by uniting herself in marriage with one who for her sake would do violence to his conscience and manipulate the business.