56
THE AMBASSADORS
by not answering; after which she answered by repeating her question. "What do you stand to lose?"
Why the question now affected him as other he couldn't have said; he only could, this time, meet it otherwise. "Everything."
"So I thought. Then you shall succeed. And to that end I'm yours———"
"Ah, dear lady!" he kindly breathed.
"Till death!" said Maria Gostrey. "Good-night."
