Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/533

 "How much do you wish?" Rowland asked.

"Well, say a thousand francs."

Rowland considered. "I don't wish to be indiscreet, but may I ask you what you propose to do with a thousand francs?"

"To go to Interlaken."

"And why should you go to Interlaken?"

The answer came at once. "Because that woman 's to be there."

Rowland broke into laughter, but his friend remained serenely grave. "You 've forgiven her then?" said Rowland.

Roderick, before answering, dropped upon the grass. But then, beside his companion, he spoke with emphasis. "Not a bit!"

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I. I only know that her beauty has the same extraordinary value as ever and that it has waked me up amazingly. Besides, she has asked me to come."

"She has asked you?"

"Yesterday, in so many words."

"Ah, the cruel creature!" cried Rowland, who was thinking of Mary Garland.

"Well," said Roderick, "I 'm perfectly willing to take her for that."

"But why need you take her for anything? Why, in the name of common sense, did you go back to her?"

"Why did I find her standing there like a goddess who had just stepped out of her cloud? Why did I look at her at all? Before I knew where I was the spell was cast." 499