te and the
belated--to their quiet colloquy; and it was indeed by some such
trivial aid that Strether became aware at the same moment of something
else. The observation was at any rate determined in him by some light
too fine to distinguish from so many others, but it was none the less
sharply determined. Chad looked unmistakeably during these
instants--well, as Strether put it to himself, all he was worth. Our
friend had a sudden apprehension of what that would on certain sides
be. He saw him in a flash as the young man marked out by women; and for
a concentrated minute the dignity, the comparative austerity, as he
funnily fancied it, of this character affected him almost with awe.
There was an experience on his interlocutor's part that looked out at
him from under the displaced hat, and that looked out moreover by a
force of its own, the deep fact of its quantity and quality, and not
through Chad's intending bravado or swagger. That was then the way men
marked out by women WERE--and also the men by whom the women were
doubtless in turn sufficiently distinguished. It affected Strether for
thirty seconds as a relevant truth, a truth which, however, the next
minute, had fallen into its relation. "Can't you imagine there being
some questions," Chad asked, "that a fellow--however much impressed by
your charming way of stating things--would like to put to you first?"

"Oh yes--easily. I'm here to answer everything. I think I can even
tell you things, of the greatest interest to you, that you won't know
enough to ask me. We'll take as many days to it as you like. But I
want," Strether wound up, "to go to bed now."

"Really?"

Chad had spoken in such surprise that he was amused. "Can't you
believe it?--with what you put me through?"

The young man seemed to consider. "Oh I haven't put you through
much--yet."

"Do you mean there's so much more to come?" Strether laughed. "All
the more reason then that I should gird myself." And as if to mark
what he felt he could by this time count on he was already on his feet.

Chad, still seated, stayed him, with a hand against him, as he passed
between their table and the next. "Oh we shall get on!"

The tone was, as who should say, everything Strether could have
desired; and quite as good the expression of face with which the
speaker had looked up at him and kindly held him. All these things
lacked was their not showing quite so much as the fruit of experience.
Yes