Shut my eyes as I would, these last words of his succeeded in making the way, which had seemed blocked up, comparatively clear. My work, which had appeared so vague, so hopelessly diffuse, condensed itself as he proceeded, and assumed a definite form under his shaping hand.
J'avais beau fermer les yeux, les derniers mots prononcés par Saint-John venaient d'éclaircir pour moi le sentier qui m'avait d'abord paru impraticable; l'oeuvre qui m'avait semblé si vague et si confuse devenait moins impossible à mesure qu'il parlait, et prenait une forme positive sous sa main créatrice.