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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； for a long time； I never saw her； and I wondered that
the common chances of the day should not have helped us to meet。
It could only be evident that she was immensely on her guard
against them； and in addition to this the house was so big that
for each other we were lost in it。 I used to look out for her
hopefully as I crossed the sala in my comings and goings；
but I was not rewarded with a glimpse of the tail of her dress。
It was as if she never peeped out of her aunt's apartment。
I used to wonder what she did there week after week and year
after year。 I had never encountered such a violent parti pris
of seclusion； it was more than keeping quietit was like hunted
creatures feigning death。 The two ladies appeared to have
no visitors whatever and no sort of contact with the world。
I judged at least that people could not have come to the house
and that Miss Tita could not have gone out without my having
some observation of it。 I did what I disliked myself for doing
（reflecting that it was only once in a way）： I questioned
my servant about their habits and let him divine that I
should be interested in any information he could pick up。
But he picked up amazingly little for a knowing Venetian：
it must be added that where there is a perpetual fast there
are very few crumbs on the floor。 His cleverness in other ways
was sufficient； if it was not quite all that I had attributed
to him on the occasion of my first interview with Miss Tita。
He had helped my gondolier to bring me round a boatload of furniture；
and when these articles had been carried to the top of the palace
and distributed according to our associated wisdom he organized
my household with such promptitude as was consistent with the fact
that it was composed exclusively of himself。 He made me in short
as comfortable as I could be with my indifferent prospects。
I should have been glad if he had fallen in love with Miss
Bordereau's maid or； failing this； had taken her in aversion；
either event might have brought about some kind of catastrophe；
and a catastrophe might have led to some parley。
It was my idea that she would have been sociable； and I
myself on various occasions saw her flit to and fro on
domestic errands； so that I was sure she was accessible。
But I tasted of no gossip from that fountain； and I
afterward learned that Pasquale's affections were fixed
upon an object that made him heedless of other women。
This was a young lady with a powdered face； a yellow cotton gown；
and much leisure； who used often to come to see him。
She practiced； at her convenience； the art of a stringer of beads
（these ornaments are made in Venice； in profusion； she had
her pocket full of them； and I used to find them on the floor
of my apartment）； and kept an eye on the maiden in the house。
It was not for me of course to make the domestics tattle；
and I never said a word to Miss Bordereau's cook。
It seemed to me a proof of the old lady's determination
to have nothing to do with me that she should never have
sent me a receipt for my three months' rent。 For some days
I looked out for it and then； when I had given it up；
I wasted a good deal of time in wondering what her reason
had been for neglecting so indispensable and familiar a form。
At first I was tempted to send her a reminder； after which I
relinquished the idea （against my judgment as to what was right
in the particular case）； on the general ground of wishing
to keep quiet。 If Miss Bordereau suspected me of ulterior
aims she would suspect me less if I should be businesslike；
and yet I consented not to be so。 It was possible she intended
her omission as an impertinence； a visible irony； to show
how she could overreach people who attempted to overreach her。
On that hypothesis it was well to let her see that one did
not notice her little tricks。 The real reading of the matter；
I afterward perceived； was simply the poor old woman's desire
to emphasize the fact that I was in the enjoyment of a favor
as rigidly limited as it had been liberally bestowed。
She had given me part of her house； and now she would
not give me even a morsel of paper with her name on it。
Let me say that even at first this did not make me too miserable；
for the whole episode was essentially delightful to me。
I foresaw that I should have a summer after my own literary heart；
and the sense of holding my opportunity was much greater than
the sense of losing it。 There could be no Venetian business
without patience； and since I adored the place I was much
more in the spirit of it for having laid in a large provision。
That spirit kept me perpetual company and seemed to look
out at me from the revived immortal facein which all
his genius shoneof the great poet who was my prompter。
I had invoked him and he had come； he hovered before me half the time；
it was as if his bright ghost had returned to earth to tell me
that he regarded the affair as his own no less than mine and
that we should see it fraternally； cheerfully to a conclusion。
It was as if he had said； 〃Poor dear； be easy with her；
she has some natural prejudices； only give her time。
Strange as it may appear to you she was very attractive in 1820。
Meanwhile are we not in Venice together； and what better
place is there for the meeting of dear friends？
See how it glows with the advancing summer； how the sky
and the sea and the rosy air and the marble of the palaces
all shimmer and melt together。〃 My eccentric private errand
became a part of the general romance and the general glory
I felt even a mystic companionship； a moral fraternity with all
those who in the past had been in the service of art。 They had
worked for beauty； for a devotion； and what else was I doing？
That element was in everything that Jeffrey Aspern had written；
and I was only bringing it to the light。
I lingered in the sala when I went to and fro； I used to watch
as long as I thought decentthe door that led to Miss Bordereau's part
of the house。 A person observing me might have supposed I was trying
to cast a spell upon it or attempting some odd experiment in hypnotism。
But I was only praying it would open or thinking what treasure probably
lurked behind it。 I hold it singular； as I look back； that I should never
have doubted for a moment that the sacred relics were there； never have
failed to feel a certain joy at being under the same roof with them。
After all they were under my handthey had not escaped me yet；
and they made my life continuous； in a fashion； with the illustrious
life they had touched at the other end。 I lost myself in this
satisfaction to the point of assumingin my quiet extravagance
that poor Miss Tita also went back； went back； as I used to phrase it。
She did indeed； the gentle spinster； but not quite so far as Jeffrey Aspern；
who was simply hearsay to her； quite as he was to me。 Only she had
lived for years with Juliana； she had se