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but the money is for me。〃
〃The money？〃
〃The money you are going to bring。〃
〃Why； you'll make me wish to stay here two or three years。〃
I spoke as benevolently as possible； though it had begun to act
on my nerves that with these women so associated with Aspern
the pecuniary question should constantly come back。
〃That would be very good for me；〃 she replied； smiling。
〃You put me on my honor！〃
She looked as if she failed to understand this； but went on：
〃She wants me to have more。 She thinks she is going to die。〃
〃Ah； not soon； I hope！〃 I exclaimed with genuine feeling。
I had perfectly considered the possibility that she would destroy
her papers on the day she should feel her end really approach。
I believed that she would cling to them till then； and I think
I had an idea that she read Aspern's letters over every night
or at least pressed them to her withered lips。 I would have
given a good deal to have a glimpse of the latter spectacle。
I asked Miss Tita if the old lady were seriously ill； and she
replied that she was only very tiredshe had lived so very；
very long。 That was what she said herselfshe wanted to die
for a change。 Besides； all her friends were dead long ago；
either they ought to have remained or she ought to have gone。
That was another thing her aunt often saidshe was not
at all content。
〃But people don't die when they like； do they？〃 Miss Tita inquired。
I took the liberty of asking why； if there was actually enough money
to maintain both of them； there would not be more than enough in case
of her being left alone。 She considered this difficult problem
a moment and then she said； 〃Oh； well； you know； she takes care of me。
She thinks that when I'm alone I shall be a great fool； I shall not know
how to manage。〃
〃I should have supposed that you took care of her。
I'm afraid she is very proud。〃
〃Why； have you discovered that already？〃 Miss Tita cried with the glimmer
of an illumination in her face。
〃I was shut up with her there for a considerable time； and she struck me；
she interested me extremely。 It didn't take me long to make my discovery。
She won't have much to say to me while I'm here。〃
〃No； I don't think she will；〃 my companion averred。
〃Do you suppose she has some suspicion of me？〃
Miss Tita's honest eyes gave me no sign that I had touched a mark。
〃I shouldn't think soletting you in after all so easily。〃
〃Oh； so easily！ she has covered her risk。 But where is it
that one could take an advantage of her？〃
〃I oughtn't to tell you if I knew； ought I？〃 And Miss Tita added；
before I had time to reply to this； smiling dolefully； 〃Do you
think we have any weak points？〃
〃That's exactly what I'm asking。 You would only have to mention
them for me to respect them religiously。〃
She looked at me； at this； with that air of timid but candid
and even gratified curiosity with which she had confronted me
from the first； and then she said； 〃There is nothing to tell。
We are terribly quiet。 I don't know how the days pass。
We have no life。〃
〃I wish I might think that I should bring you a little。〃
〃Oh； we know what we want；〃 she went on。 〃It's all right。〃
There were various things I desired to ask her： how in the world
they did live； whether they had any friends or visitors；
any relations in America or in other countries。 But I judged such
an inquiry would be premature； I must leave it to a later chance。
〃Well； don't YOU be proud；〃 I contented myself with saying。
〃Don't hide from me altogether。〃
〃Oh； I must stay with my aunt；〃 she returned； without looking at me。
And at the same moment； abruptly； without any ceremony of parting；
she quitted me and disappeared； leaving me to make my own way downstairs。
I remained a while longer； wandering about the bright desert （the sun was
pouring in） of the old house； thinking the situation over on the spot。
Not even the pattering little serva came to look after me； and I
reflected that after all this treatment showed confidence。
IV
Perhaps it did； but all the same； six weeks later；
toward the middle of June； the moment when Mrs。 Prest undertook
her annual migration； I had made no measurable advance。
I was obliged to confess to her that I had no results to speak of。
My first step had been unexpectedly rapid； but there
was no appearance that it would be followed by a second。
I was a thousand miles from taking tea with my hostesses
that privilege of which； as I reminded Mrs。 Prest； we both
had had a vision。 She reproached me with wanting boldness；
and I answered that even to be bold you must have an opportunity：
you may push on through a breach but you can't batter down
a dead wall。 She answered that the breach I had already made
was big enough to admit an army and accused me of wasting precious
hours in whimpering in her salon when I ought to have been
carrying on the struggle in the field。 It is true that I went
to see her very often； on the theory that it would console me
（I freely expressed my discouragement） for my want of success
on my own premises。 But I began to perceive that it did
not console me to be perpetually chaffed for my scruples；
especially when I was really so vigilant； and I was rather
glad when my derisive friend closed her house for the summer。
She had expected to gather amusement from the drama of my
intercourse with the Misses Bordereau； and she was disappointed
that the intercourse； and consequently the drama； had not come off。
〃They'll lead you on to your ruin；〃 she said before she left Venice。
〃They'll get all your money without showing you a scrap。〃
I think I settled down to my business with more concentration
after she had gone away。
It was a fact that up to that time I had not； save on a single
brief occasion； had even a moment's contact with my queer hostesses。
The exception had occurred when I carried them according
to my promise the terrible three thousand francs。
Then I found Miss Tita waiting for me in the hall； and she
took the money from my hand so that I did not see her aunt。
The old lady had promised to receive me； but she apparently
thought nothing of breaking that vow。 The money was contained
in a bag of chamois leather； of respectable dimensions；
which my banker had given me； and Miss Tita had to make a big
fist to receive it。 This she did with extreme solemnity；
though I tried to treat the affair a little as a joke。
It was in no jocular strain； yet it was with simplicity；
that she inquired； weighing the money in her two palms：
〃Don't you think it's too much？〃 To which I replied that that
would depend upon the amount of pleasure I should get for it。
Hereupon she turned away from me quickly； as she had done
the day before； murmuring in a tone different from any she had
used hitherto： 〃Oh； pleasure； pleasurethere's no pleasure
in this house！〃
After this