In fact, the daughter of Baron Walton could have used the words "slave" and "trade" to describe her actions on the Atlantic and West African coasts, and the whole process of earning 10,000 pounds for Lady Surrey. However, she did not say the phrase "slave trade" lightly.

She knew very well that the wife of the Earl of Surrey, her partner, Frances Howard, would absolutely rebuke herself for being involved in the most immoral and inhumane human trafficking in human history. She would be angry at herself, as the daughter of a nobleman, why she would act like a beast that did not respect the rights of black people and did not protect the lives of black people for a large amount of pounds.

Under these circumstances, she decided to pay the Sullies in advance for the benefits of the slave trade. Then, let's see if Frances, as a countess, will be impressed by a full ten thousand pounds. So Isabel told her everything she had seen and heard during the voyage very honestly, and let her make her own reasonable judgment.

From the looting of the first Portuguese slave merchant ship near the Cape Verde Islands, to her landing on the island of Torti, abandoned by the Spaniards, with Captain Hawkins and others. Throughout her narration, Mrs. Surrey listened attentively to her every phrase, every word. Sometimes he acted very serious, sometimes he showed a worried look, and finally giggled excitedly, "Isabel, I didn't expect you to be the first Englishman to land on a Spanish colonial island." ”

Staring appreciatively at the daughter of Baron Walton, who was a little dry-mouthed, she shook her head sharply, "Isabel, as a noble woman, you have done something that most male nobles and commoners can't do. You must be careful in the future, if someone tries to fabricate your accusations, they will definitely accuse you of heretical. ”

As Isabel lifted the corner of her floor-length skirt and walked out of the woods, she looked at Mrs. Surrey who was following her and smiled, "Frances, I am on an overseas voyage on the orders of His Highness. Therefore, I can voluntarily return all my results to His Highness. Even if someone wants to denounce me as a heretic, I can explain that this is His Highness's order and that I must obey it. ”

"Gurgle... You cunning fox! Of course, I pray to God that you will never be caught by hunters and hounds. Frances Holder grinned and walked slowly on the meadow in the woods, and had to admire the ingenuity of the other party.

As the two of them left the woods and walked on the edge of the unusually beautifully manicured lawn of Surrey Manor, Mrs. Surrey looked hesitant when she turned her head to look at her. However, she still decided to say everything in her heart, "Isabel, at first I heard that you were on a Portuguese merchant ship... When blacks were transshipped to the island of Spain to change hands to the Spaniards, I would love to tell you that it was immoral, that it was not in the spirit of the aristocracy. ”

Isabel expected her to say this, and simply turned her gaze to the fishpond on the north side of the lawn, "Frances, I know it's immoral, and it's detrimental to my noble honor. But the ten thousand pounds I had received from the merchants of Plymouth, a treasure not to be seduced by evil. ”

Mrs. Surrey shook her head and sighed, "I invested £200 in your fleet because you were my good partner. Now, am I going to give up the nobility of Henry and my Norfolk family for the sake of this treasure? ”

"Well, Frances, I have a way to stop you from worrying."

"Really? Isabel, we're good friends, tell me quickly. ”

A sly smile appeared on Isabel's face, "You can use this money to invest in my fleet a second time." Did you know that there is no guarantee that a merchant ship sailing overseas will not encounter hurricanes or strong enough waves? ”

Mrs. Surrey, however, imagined the ocean-going fleet on the bright side, "What if you and your fleet succeeded in plundering the Portuguese merchant ships again and capturing more Negroes?" ”

"Oh, if that's the case, you'll get more than 50 times the return on your investment, which is £500,000." Isabel nodded thoughtfully, her expression suddenly becoming exaggerated again, "My God, 500,000 pounds!" Your Majesty's taxes for a year are not so much! ”

"Stop, don't say any more, I... I don't invest anymore. 500,000 pounds, what a terrible treasure! ”

"Giggle...... Frances, can you now take the ten thousand pounds of interest? ”

At this moment, Lady Surrey's personal maid, Beth, walked out of the Earl of Surrey's manor house and walked towards the two of them with a steady and fast pace. Mrs. Surrey saw her maid from a distance, and turned to look at Isabel again, "Interest? What interest? ”

Isabel used the more common sophistry of substituting one concept for another, and looked at Mrs. Surrey very calmly, "Frances, the interest on the usury I borrowed from you for this ten thousand pounds." Now, the principal and interest have been paid off, and we don't owe each other, right? ”

Interest and wealth obtained through the slave trade were two very different kinds of wealth, and the lender could earn interest through the loan in his heart without worrying about whether he was morally sinful. Mrs. Surrey's eyes widened again, and a reassuring smile appeared on her face as she looked at Baron Walton's daughter in amazement.

In order to completely drive a feeling of uneasiness and guilt out of her heart, Mrs. Surrey glanced at the maid who was about to walk in front of her, and then asked her good companion, "Isabel, Your Majesty has issued a decree on usury, strictly prohibiting lenders from charging more than 40% interest. ”

Isabel smiled and blurted out without even thinking about it, "You charged me 39% interest, and it took me five years before I returned the principal you lent me." So, how much interest do you charge for five years? ”

The two didn't speak again, just looked at each other and giggled. Beth, the maid, came two steps away from them, saluted them, and said softly, "Madame, lunch has begun." ”

Mrs. Surrey, who had unexpectedly received a fortune of ten thousand pounds, was in a good mood, and looked at the maid with a smile on her face and said, "I see." Well, I invite Miss Isabel to today's lunch and dinner. Tell the kitchen to prepare some fine wines, fine hams, fresh venison and wild boar for my important guests at Surrey Estate. ”

As the maid turned to leave, Lady Surrey stopped her again, "Beth, tell the cook that the best spices must be used in cooking, understand?" ”