 form that permits an announcement. It's only for you -
absolutely you alone - that I speak; I so want you to know.« The sense he had so
often had, since the first hour of his disembarkment, of being further and
further in, treated him again at this moment to another twinge; but in this
wonderful way of her putting him in there continued to be something exquisitely
remorseless. »Monsieur de Vionnet will accept what he must accept. He has
proposed half a dozen things - each one more impossible than the other; and he
wouldn't have found this if he lives to a hundred. Chad found it,« she continued
with her lighted, faintly sflushed, her conscious confidential face, »in the
quietest way in the world. Or rather it found him - for everything finds him; I
mean finds him right. You'll think we do such things strangely - but at my age,«
she smiled, »one has to accept one's conditions. Our young man's people had seen
her; one of his sisters, a charming woman - we know all about them - had
observed her somewhere with me. She had spoken to her brother - turned him on;
and we were again observed, poor Jeanne and I, without our in the least knowing
it. It was at the beginning of the winter; it went on for some time; it
outlasted our absence; it began again on our return; and it luckily seems all
right. The young man had met Chad, and he got a friend to approach him - as
having a decent interest in us. Mr. Newsome looked well before he leaped; he
kept beautifully quiet and satisfied himself fully; then only he spoke. It's
what has for some time past occupied us. It seems as if it were what would do;
really, really all one could wish. There are only two or three points to be
settled - they depend on her father. But this time I think we're safe.«
    Strether, consciously gaping a little, had fairly hung upon her lips. »I
hope so with all my heart.« And then he permitted himself: »Does nothing depend
on her?«
    »Ah naturally; everything did. But she's pleased comme tout. She has been
perfectly free; and he - our young friend - is really a combination. I quite
adore him.«
    Strether just made sure. »You mean your future son-in-law?«
    »Future if we all bring it off
