THE    AMBASSADORS
Chad took it in.   " All the more that I've really dished you, eh?"
" Dished me ?" Strether echoed as inexpressively as possible.
"Why, if she sends out the Pococks it will be that she doesn't
trust you; and if she doesn't trust you, that bears upon—well,
you know what."
Strether decided after a moment that he did know what, and in
consonance with this he spoke. " You see then, all the more, what
you owe me."
" Well, if I do see, how can I pay ?"
" By not deserting me.   By standing by me."
" Oh, I say— !" But Chad, as they went down-stairs, clapped a
firm hand, in the manner of a pledge, upon his shoulder. They
descended slowly together and had, in the court of the hotel, some
further talk, of which the upshot was that they presently sep-
arated. Chad Newsome departed, and Strether, left alone, looked
about, superficially, for Waymarsh. But Waymarsh had not yet,
it appeared, come down, and our friend finally went out without
a sight of him.
¦I