?«
    »But pray what has that to do with it?«
    »Why it's the whole question.«
    »Of my going home?« Chad was clearly surprised. »Oh not much! Do you think
that when I want to go any one will have any power -«
    »To keep you« - Strether took him straight up - »from carrying out your
wish? Well, our idea has been thnt somebody has hitherto - or a good many
persons perhaps - kept you pretty well from wanting. That's what - if you're in
anybody's hands - may again happen. You don't answer my question« - he kept it
up; »but if you aren't in anybody's hands so much the better. There's nothing
then but what makes for your going.«
    Chad turned this over. »I don't answer your question?« He spoke quite
without resenting it. »Well, such questions have always a rather exaggerated
side. One doesn't know quite what you mean by being in women's hands. It's all
so vague. One is when one isn't. One isn't when one is. And then one can't quite
give people away.« He seemed kindly to explain. »I've never got stuck - so very
hard; and, as against anything at any time really better, I don't think I've
ever been afraid.« There was something in it that held Strether to wonder, and
this give him time to go on. He broke out as with a more helpful thought. »Don't
you know how I like Paris itself?«
    The upshot was indeed to make our friend marvel. »Oh if that's all that's
the matter with you -!« It was he who almost showed resentment.
    Chad's smile of a truth more than met it. »But isn't that enough?«
    Strether hesitated, but it came out. »Not enough for your mother!« Spoken,
however, it sounded a trifle odd - the effect of which was that Chad broke into
a laugh. Strether, at this, succumbed as well, though with extreme brevity.
»Permit us to have still our theory. But if you are so free and so strong you're
inexcusable. I'll write in the morning,« he added with decision. »I'll say I've
got you.«
    This appeared to open for Chad a
