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Surely he's a poet。〃 I was determined that it should be she； not I；
who should first pronounce Jeffrey Aspern's name。
My resolution was taken in ignorance of Miss Bordereau's
extremely resolute character； and her lips never formed
in my hearing the syllables that meant so much for her。
She neglected to answer my question but raised her hand to take
back the picture； with a gesture which though ineffectual
was in a high degree peremptory。 〃It's only a person
who should know for himself that would give me my price；〃
she said with a certain dryness。
〃Oh； then； you have a price？〃 I did not restore the precious thing；
not from any vindictive purpose but because I instinctively clung to it。
We looked at each other hard while I retained it。
〃I know the least I would take。 What it occurred to me to ask you
about is the most I shall be able to get。〃
She made a movement； drawing herself together as if；
in a spasm of dread at having lost her treasure； she were going
to attempt the immense effort of rising to snatch it from me。
I instantly placed it in her hand again； saying as I did so；
〃I should like to have it myself； but with your ideas I could
never afford it。〃
She turned the small oval plate over in her lap； with its face down；
and I thought I saw her catch her breath a little； as if she had
had a strain or an escape。 This however did not prevent her saying
in a moment； 〃You would buy a likeness of a person you don't know；
by an artist who has no reputation？〃
〃The artist may have no reputation； but that thing is wonderfully
well painted；〃 I replied； to give myself a reason。
〃It's lucky you thought of saying that； because the painter
was my father。〃
〃That makes the picture indeed precious！〃 I exclaimed； laughing； and I
may add that a part of my laughter came from my satisfaction in finding
that I had been right in my theory of Miss Bordereau's origin。 Aspern had
of course met the young lady when he went to her father's studio as a sitter。
I observed to Miss Bordereau that if she would entrust me with her
property for twenty…four hours I should be happy to take advice upon it；
but she made no answer to this save to slip it in silence into her pocket。
This convinced me still more that she had no sincere intention of selling
it during her lifetime； though she may have desired to satisfy herself
as to the sum her niece； should she leave it to her； might expect
eventually to obtain for it。 〃Well； at any rate I hope you will not offer
it without giving me notice；〃 I said as she remained irresponsive。
〃Remember that I am a possible purchaser。〃
〃I should want your money first！〃 she returned with unexpected rudeness；
and then； as if she bethought herself that I had just cause to complain
of such an insinuation and wished to turn the matter off； asked abruptly
what I talked about with her niece when I went out with her that way
in the evening。
〃You speak as if we had set up the habit；〃 I replied。
〃Certainly I should be very glad if it were to become a habit。
But in that case I should feel a still greater scruple at
betraying a lady's confidence。〃
〃Her confidence？ Has she got confidence？〃
〃Here she isshe can tell you herself；〃 I said； for Miss Tita
now appeared on the threshold of the old woman's parlor。
〃Have you got confidence； Miss Tita？ Your aunt wants very
much to know。〃
〃Not in her； not in her！〃 the younger lady declared； shaking her
head with a dolefulness that was neither jocular not affected。
〃I don't know what to do with her； she has fits of horrid imprudence。
She is so easily tiredand yet she has begun to roam
to drag herself about the house。〃 And she stood looking down
at her immemorial companion with a sort of helpless wonder；
as if all their years of familiarity had not made her perversities；
on occasion； any more easy to follow。
〃I know what I'm about。 I'm not losing my mind。
I daresay you would like to think so；〃 said Miss Bordereau
with a cynical little sigh。
〃I don't suppose you came out here yourself。 Miss Tita must have had to lend
you a hand；〃 I interposed with a pacifying intention。
〃Oh； she insisted that we should push her； and when she insists！〃
said Miss Tita in the same tone of apprehension； as if there were no
knowing what service that she disapproved of her aunt might force
her next to render。
〃I have always got most things done I wanted； thank God！
The people I have lived with have humored me；〃 the old
woman continued； speaking out of the gray ashes of her vanity。
〃I suppose you mean that they have obeyed you。〃
〃Well； whatever it is； when they like you。〃
〃It's just because I like you that I want to resist；〃
said Miss Tita with a nervous laugh。
〃Oh； I suspect you'll bring Miss Bordereau upstairs next to pay me a visit；〃
I went on； to which the old lady replied：
〃Oh； no； I can keep an eye on you from here！〃
〃You are very tired； you will certainly be ill tonight！〃
cried Miss Tita。
〃Nonsense； my dear； I feel better at this moment than I
have done for a month。 Tomorrow I shall come out again。
I want to be where I can see this clever gentleman。〃
〃Shouldn't you perhaps see me better in your sitting room？〃
I inquired。
〃Don't you mean shouldn't you have a better chance at me？〃
she returned； fixing me a moment with her green shade。
〃Ah； I haven't that anywhere！ I look at you but I don't see you。〃
〃You excite her dreadfullyand that is not good；〃 said Miss Tita；
giving me a reproachful； appealing look。
〃I want to watch youI want to watch you！〃 the old lady went on。
〃Well then； let us spend as much of our time together as possible
I don't care whereand that will give you every facility。〃
〃Oh； I've seen you enough for today。 I'm satisfied。 Now I'll go home。〃
Miss Tita laid her hands on the back of her aunt's chair and began to push；
but I begged her to let me take her place。 〃Oh； yes； you may move me
this wayyou shan't in any other！〃 Miss Bordereau exclaimed as she
felt herself propelled firmly and easily over the smooth； hard floor。
Before we reached the door of her own apartment she commanded me to stop；
and she took a long； last look up and down the noble sala。 〃Oh； it's
a magnificent house！〃 she murmured； after which I pushed her forward。
When we had entered the parlor Miss Tita told me that she should now
be able to manage； and at the same moment the little red…haired
donna came to meet her mistress。 Miss Tita's idea was evidently
to get her aunt immediately back to bed。 I confess that in spite
of this urgency I was guilty of the indiscretion of lingering；
it held me there to think that I was nearer the documents I coveted
that they were probably put away somewhere in the faded； unsociable room。
The place had indeed a bareness which did not suggest hidden treasures；
there were no dusky nooks nor curtained corners； no massive cabinets
nor ch