[65]
While, then, the necessary consequence of this law is that women who have been given in marriage by their fathers are thus liable to be legally claimed, would any one of Pyrrhus's uncles, if Phile were a legitimate daughter left by him, have allowed Xenocles to take and marry a woman who belonged to them by right of kinship and thus make him heir1 to so large a fortune instead of themselves? Do not believe it, gentlemen;
1 As a matter of fact the husband of an heiress enjoyed the use of her fortune only during the minority of their son or sons.