Chapter 6

CHAPTER VI. Frascati

One day, on entering Roderick's lodging (not the modest rooms on the
Ripetta which he had first occupied, but a much more sumptuous apartment
on the Corso), Rowland found a letter on the table addressed to himself.
It was from Roderick, and consisted of but three lines: "I am gone to
Frascati--for meditation. If I am not at home on Friday, you had
better join me." On Friday he was still absent, and Rowland went out to
Frascati. Here he found his friend living at the inn and spending his
days, according to his own account, lying under the trees of the Villa
Mondragone, reading Ariosto. He was in a sombre mood; "meditation"
seemed not to have been fruitful. Nothing especially pertinent to our
narrative had passed between the two young men since Mrs. Light's ball,
save a few words bearing on an incident of that entertainment. Rowland
informed Roderick, the next day, that he had told Miss Light of his
engagement. "I don't know whether you 'll thank me," he had said, "but
it 's my duty to let you know it. Miss Light perhaps has already done
so."

Roderick looked at him a moment, intently, with his color slowly
rising. "Why should n't I thank you?" he asked. "I am not ashamed of my
engagement."

"As you had not spoken of it yourself, I thought you might have a reason
for not having it known."

"A man does n't gossip about such a matter with strangers," Roderick
rejoined, with the ring of irritation in his voice.

"With strangers--no!" said Rowland, smiling.

Roderick continued his work; but after a moment, turning round with a
frown: "If you supposed I had a reason for being silent, pray why should
you have spoken?"

"I did not speak idly, my dear Roderick. I weighed the matter before I
spoke, and promised myself to let you know immediately afterwards. It
seemed to me that Miss Light had better know that your affections are
pledged."

"The Cavaliere has put it into your head, then, that I am making love to
her?"

"No; in that case I would not have spoken to her first."

"Do you mean, then, that she is making love to me?"

"This is what I mean," said Rowland, after a pause. "That girl finds you
interesting, and is pleased, even though she may play indifference,
at your finding her so. I said to myself that it might save her some
sentimental disappointment to know without delay that you are not at
liberty to become indefinitely interested in other women."

"You seem to have taken the measure of my liberty with extraordinary
minuteness!" cried Roderick.