Yet he was answered still better when she said in a moment: "Will Mr.Newsome introduce his sister-- ?" "To Madame de Vionnet ?" Strether spoke the name at last.

"I shall be greatly surprised if he doesn't." She seemed to gaze at the possibility.

"You mean you've thought of it and you're prepared." "I've thought of it and I'm prepared." It was to her visitor now that she applied her consideration.

"Bon! You ARE magnificent!" "Well," he answered after a pause and a little wearily, but still standing there before her--"well, that's what, just once in all my dull days, I think I shall like to have been!" Two days later he had news from Chad of a communication from Woollett in response to their determinant telegram, this missive being addressed to Chad himself and announcing the immediate departure for France of Sarah and Jim and Mamie.

Strether had meanwhile on his own side cabled; he had but delayed that act till after his visit to Miss Gostrey, an interview by which, as so often before, he felt his sense of things cleared up and settled.