The sombre glow stared it at him till it fairly sounded out--"to save you, poor old man, to save you; to save you in spite of yourself." Yet it was somehow just this communication that showed him to himself as more than ever lost.

Still another result of it was to put before him as never yet that between his comrade and the interest represented by Sarah there was already a basis.

Beyond all question now, yes: Waymarsh had been in occult relation with Mrs.Newsome--out, out it all came in the very effort of his face.

"Yes, you're feeling my hand"-- he as good as proclaimed it; "but only because this at least I SHALL have got out of the damned Old World: that I shall have picked up the pieces into which it has caused you to crumble." It was as if in short, after an instant, Strether had not only had it from him, but had recognised that so far as this went the instant had cleared the air.
Our friend understood and approved; he had the sense that they wouldn't otherwise speak of it.

This would be all, and it would mark in himself a kind of intelligent generosity.