When we reached the _auberge_
again, we found the rejected guide still there, and more unstable than
before. The general impression on his mind seemed to be that he had been
wronged, and had forgiven us. In our absence he had been meditating upon
the glaciere, and his imagination had brought him to a very exalted idea
of its wonders. Whereas, in the former part of the day, he had stoutly
asserted that no cord could possibly be necessary, he now vehemently
affirmed that if I had but taken him as guide, he would have let me down
into holes 40 metres deep, where I should have seen such things as man
had never seen before. Had monsieur seen the source of the Loue? Yes,
monsieur had. Very fine, was it not? Yes, very fine. Which did monsieur
then prefer--the glaciere, or the source? The source, infinitely. _Then_
it was clear monsieur had not seen the glaciere:--he was sure before
that monsieur had not, _now_ it was quite clear, for in all the world
there was nothing like that glaciere. The Loue!--one might rather see
the glaciere once, than live by the source of the Loue all the days of
one's life.
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