Woe Is Me!
The reconteur of our story about the idyllic times gone by goes on to elucidate
how the comely heroine is taken to the bandits' hideout. There a sullen crew of
cutthroats is gathered. They don't wish to procrastinate; she must by taken 
immediately to a foreign land where much treasure will be paid for her. Their 
cupidity knows no bounds. The leader wants to hold her for ransom from her
wealthy parents. The gang demurs;they are reticent. There is a rift among
the criminals. Their leader remains truculent, and they agree to wait for just
two days for the ransom money. An emissary from the grief-stricken parents is
expected at any moment. The wan maiden, her spirits at their nadir, has time
to ruminate about her lugubrious fate.


the die is case--an unchangeable decision has been made.
The fat was in the fire and the die was cast when he decided to tell the white
lie about how he had found the money.