It's too visibly good for you." Strether had himself plenty to say about this, but it was amusing also to measure the march of Chad's tone.He had never been more a man of the world, and it was always in his company present to our friend that one was seeing how in successive connexions a man of the world acquitted himself.Chad kept it up beautifully."My idea--voyons!--is simply that you should let Madame de Vionnet know you, simply that you should consent to know HER.I don't in the least mind telling you that, clever and charming as she is, she's ever so much in my confidence.
All I ask of you is to let her talk to you.You've asked me about what you call my hitch, and so far as it goes she'll explain it to you.She's herself my hitch, hang it--if you must really have it all out.But in a sense," he hastened in the most wonderful manner to add, "that you'll quite make out for yourself.She's too good a friend, confound her.Too good, I mean, for me to leave without--without--" It was his first hesitation.
"Without what?"
"Well, without my arranging somehow or other the damnable terms of my sacrifice.""It WILL be a sacrifice then?"
"It will be the greatest loss I ever suffered.I owe her so much."It was beautiful, the way Chad said these things, and his plea was now confessedly--oh quite flagrantly and publicly--interesting.The moment really took on for Strether an intensity.Chad owed Madame de Vionnet so much? What DID that do then but clear up the whole mystery? He was indebted for alterations, and she was thereby in a position to have sent in her bill for expenses incurred in reconstruction.What was this at bottom but what had been to be arrived at? Strether sat there arriving at it while he munched toast and stirred his second cup.To do this with the aid of Chad's pleasant earnest face was also to do more besides.No, never before had he been so ready to take him as he was.What was it that had suddenly so cleared up? It was just everybody's character; that is everybody's but--in a measure--his own.Strether felt HIS character receive for the instant a smutch from all the wrong things he had suspected or believed.The person to whom Chad owed it that he could positively turn out such a comfort to other persons--such a person was sufficiently raised above any "breath" by the nature of her work and the young man's steady light.All of which was vivid enough to come and go quickly; though indeed in the midst of it Strether could utter a question."Have I your word of honour that if I surrender myself to Madame de Vionnet you'll surrender yourself to me?"Chad laid his hand firmly on his friend's."My dear man, you have it."There was finally something in his felicity almost embarrassing and oppressive--Strether had begun to fidget under it for the open air and the erect posture.He had signed to the waiter that he wished to pay, and this transaction took some moments, during which he thoroughly felt, while he put down money and pretended--it was quite hollow--to estimate change, that Chad's higher spirit, his youth, his practice, his paganism, his felicity, his assurance, his impudence, whatever it might be, had consciously scored a success.
Well, that was all right so far as it went; his sense of the thing in question covered our friend for a minute like a veil through which--as if he had been muffled--he heard his interlocutor ask him if he mightn't take him over about five."Over" was over the river, and over the river was where Madame de Vionnet lived, and five was that very afternoon.They got at last out of the place--got out before he answered.He lighted, in the street, a cigarette, which again gave him more time.But it was already sharp for him that there was no use in time."What does she propose to do to me?" he had presently demanded.
Chad had no delays."Are you afraid of her?""Oh immensely.Don't you see it?"
"Well," said Chad, "she won't do anything worse to you than make you like her.""It's just of that I'm afraid."
"Then it's not fair to me."
Strether cast about."It's fair to your mother.""Oh," said Chad, "are you afraid of HER?""Scarcely less.Or perhaps even more.But is this lady against your interests at home?" Strether went on.
"Not directly, no doubt; but she's greatly in favour of them here.""And what--'here'--does she consider them to be?""Well, good relations!"
"With herself?"
"With herself."
"And what is it that makes them so good?""What? Well, that's exactly what you'll make out if you'll only go, as I'm supplicating you, to see her."Strether stared at him with a little of the wanness, no doubt, that the vision of more to "make out" could scarce help producing."Imean HOW good are they?"
"Oh awfully good."
Again Strether had faltered, but it was brief.It was all very well, but there was nothing now he wouldn't risk."Excuse me, but Imust really--as I began by telling you--know where I am.Is she bad?""'Bad'?"--Chad echoed it, but without a shock."Is that what's implied--?""When relations are good?" Strether felt a little silly, and was even conscious of a foolish laugh, at having it imposed on him to have appeared to speak so.What indeed was he talking about? His stare had relaxed; he looked now all round him.But something in him brought him back, though he still didn't know quite how to turn it.The two or three ways he thought of, and one of them in particular, were, even with scruples dismissed, too ugly.He none the less at last found something."Is her life without reproach?"It struck him, directly he had found it, as pompous and priggish;so much so that he was thankful to Chad for taking it only in the right spirit.The young man spoke so immensely to the point that the effect was practically of positive blandness."Absolutely without reproach.A beautiful life.Allez donc voir!"These last words were, in the liberality of their confidence, so imperative that Strether went through no form of assent; but before they separated it had been confirmed that he should be picked up at a quarter to five.
