Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/423

 current of the old man's irony, but he made no answer. "It was a magnificent marriage," he said at last. "I have my reserves about a great many people, but I had none about the Signer Principe."

"I should judge him indeed a very honourable young man," said Rowland.

"Eh, young as he is he 's made of the old stuff. And now perhaps he 's blowing his brains out. He 's the last of his house; it 's a great house. But Miss Light will have made it, for the nonce, feel very small."

"Is that what she has wanted to do?"

The Cavaliere's smile was like the red tip of a cigar seen for a few seconds in the dark. "You 've observed Miss Light with attention," he said, "and this brings me to my errand. Mrs. Light has a high opinion of your wisdom, of your kindness, and she has reason to believe you 've great influence with her daughter."

"I—with her daughter? Not a grain!"

"That's possibly your modesty. Mrs. Light believes that something may yet be done and that our young lady will listen to you as to no one. She begs you therefore to come and see her before it 's too late."

"But all this, my dear Cavaliere, is none of my business," Rowland objected. "I can't possibly in such a matter take the responsibility of advising Miss Light."

The Cavaliere fixed his eyes for a moment on the floor, in brief but intense reflection. Then looking up, "Unfortunately," he said, "she has no man near her whom she respects. She has no father." 389