He had only the slight discomfort of feeling, as the young man turned away from the lamp, that his thought had in the momentary silence possibly been guessed.

"Well, I've no doubt," said Chad, "you've come near enough.

The details, as you say, don't matter.
It HAS been generally the case that I've let myself go.

But I'm coming round--I'm not so bad now." With which they walked on again to Strether's hotel.
"Do you mean," the latter asked as they approached the door, "that there isn't any woman with you now ?" "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 that 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.