Don't, moreover," she added, "believe everything you hear about her husband." "He's not then," Strether asked, "a wretch ?" "Oh yes.

But charming." "Do you know him ?" "I've met him.

He's bien aimable." "To every one but his wife ?" "Oh for all I know, to her too--to any, to every woman.

I hope you at any rate," she pursued with a quick change, "appreciate the care I take of Mr.Waymarsh." "Oh immensely." But Strether was not yet in line.

"At all events," he roundly brought out, "the attachment's an innocent one." "Mine and his?
Ah," she laughed, "don't rob it of ALL interest!" "I mean our friend's here--to the lady we've been speaking of." That was what he had settled to as an indirect but none the less closely involved consequence of his impression of Jeanne.