“I have heard the same thing from one of my officers,” replied the General. “He is a promising young fellow, and has come back amazed at the wonderful things he saw there.”
“You know that the doctors in attendance at the piscina report the most miraculous cures?” said the Duke.
“We do not need the opinion of learned men to make us believe in miracles,” said Madame de Brécé with a limpid smile. “I have far more confidence in the Blessed Virgin than in any doctors.”
They then began to talk of the Affair, amazed, so they said, that the “syndicate of treachery” should continue its audacious manifestations unpunished. With much emphasis the Duke expressed himself as follows:
“When two courts martial have given their verdict, the smallest doubt can no longer exist.”
“Have you heard,” said Madame Jean, “that Mademoiselle Deniseau, the local prophetess, has learned from the mouth of St. Radegonde herself that Zola is going to become a naturalized Italian, and will not return to France?”
This prophecy was received with much favour.
A servant entered, bringing the letters.
“Perhaps there will be some news of the war,” said the Duke, opening a paper.
And in dead silence he read the following: