She was not one of those women who can acquiesce in marriage by fraud or capture, and even learn to love the hand which snared them.

So it came about that to Montalvo she spoke very seldom; indeed after the first week of marriage she only saw him on rare occasions.

Very soon he found out that his presence was hateful to her, and turned her detestation to account with his usual cleverness.

In other words, Lysbeth bought freedom by parting with her property--in fact, a regular tariff was established, so many guilders for a week's liberty, so many for a month's.
This was an arrangement that suited Montalvo well enough, for in his heart he was terrified of this woman, whose beautiful face had frozen into a perpetual mask of watchful hatred.

He could not forget that frightful curse which had taken deep root in his superstitious mind, and already seemed to flourish there, for it was true that since she spoke it he had never known a quiet hour.