“A very strong man carried me in his arms; we descended from the window by a rope ladder. Below they had a closed-in car. We went up among the mountains, before we stopped at a lonely house. They lifted me down, and carried me to a room. I was locked in, a prisoner. Oh, they treated me well enough. There was a peasant woman who brought me my food and was kind to me. But the time was long, for I was terrified, and so anxious about you. I thought I should go mad. Then last night they put me in the car again, and brought me down. You know the rest.”
“What shall we do now? I suppose we had better go back to our room.”
She shook her head. “Nothing can make me spend another night there. The very idea horrifies me. No, I want to go far away from here, very far. If you don’t mind, I will get my things, stay at a hotel to-night, and to-morrow morning leave for Paris.”
“I quite understand. But ... how about that cottage at Villefranche? Won’t you come there with me?”
Again she shook her head. “No, not now....”
“Once you wanted to.”
“Once, yes. Once I had a dream.... That’s finished now. I’ve been a foolish girl. I did lots of thinking when I was alone up there, and I see my way clear. It’s a lonely way but perhaps I’ll have my share of happiness. Yes, I’d better go.”
He felt that she was right, and did not try to dissuade her.
“At any rate,” he said, “you’ll let me lend you that money, the two thousand we had such a fuss over?”
“Yes, I’ll borrow it gladly, and I’ll pay you back. I bless you for all you’ve done for me....”