“Deadly serious.”

“Your idea is to remain at Interlaken some time?”

“Indefinitely!” said Roderick; and it seemed to his companion that the tone in which he said this made it immensely well worth hearing.

“And your mother and cousin, meanwhile, are to remain here?  It will soon be getting very cold, you know.”

“It does n’t seem much like it to-day.”

“Very true; but to-day is a day by itself.”

“There is nothing to prevent their going back to Lucerne.  I depend upon your taking charge of them.”

At this Rowland reclined upon the grass again; and again, after reflection, he faced his friend.  “How would you express,” he asked, “the character of the profit that you expect to derive from your excursion?”

“I see no need of expressing it.  The proof of the pudding is in the eating!  The case is simply this.  I desire immensely to be near Christina Light, and it is such a huge refreshment to find myself again desiring something, that I propose to drift with the current.  As I say, she has waked me up, and it is possible something may come of it.  She makes me feel as if I were alive again.  This,” and he glanced down at the inn, “I call death!”

“That I am very grateful to hear.  You really feel as if you might do something?”

“Don’t ask too much.  I only know that she makes my heart beat, makes me see visions.”

“You feel encouraged?”

“I feel excited.”

“You are really looking better.”

“I am glad to hear it.  Now that I have answered your questions, please to give me the money.”

Rowland shook his head.  “For that purpose, I can’t!”

“You can’t?”

“It ’s impossible.  Your plan is rank folly.  I can’t help you in it.”

Roderick flushed a little, and his eye expanded.  “I will borrow what money I can, then, from Mary!” This was not viciously said; it had simply the ring of passionate resolution.

Instantly it brought Rowland to terms.  He took a bunch of keys from his pocket and tossed it upon the grass.  “The little brass one opens my dressing-case,” he said.  “You will find money in it.”

Roderick let the keys lie; something seemed to have struck him; he looked askance at his friend.  “You are awfully gallant!”

“You certainly are not.  Your proposal is an outrage.”

“Very likely.  It ’s a proof the more of my desire.”

“If you have so much steam on, then, use it for something else.  You say you are awake again.  I am delighted; only be so in the best sense.  Is n’t it very plain?  If you have the energy to desire, you have also the energy to reason and to judge.  If you can care to go, you can also care to stay, and staying being the more profitable course, the inspiration, on that side, for a man who has his self-confidence to win back again, should be greater.”

Roderick, plainly, did not relish this simple logic, and his eye grew angry as he listened to its echo.  “Oh, the devil!” he cried.