He took out the letter, unfolded it, and handed it to her with a curious smile.
"Tout va bien!" Anne read aloud. "What does he mean?"
"He means, I suppose, that my mind may be at rest. You see that he is in a good temper."
"It looks like it, certainly. But that is strange, too. Had Hervé de Sainfoy sent him an answer? When you saw him, did he know—"
"Yes, he knew."
"How did he bear it?"
"Like a man."
"Really! One dislikes him a little less for that. But still, Urbain, why should you have anything to do with him? Is it not enough that the Prefect is so friendly to us all? With his protection, Joseph and Ange are not in any real danger."
"It is best to have two strings to one's bow," answered Urbain. "I prefer Ratoneau a friend to Ratoneau an enemy."
"I should like best no Ratoneau at all," said Anne. She flicked the letter back to him from the tips of her fingers, lightly and scornfully. "How could Adélaïde talk to him for a whole evening!" she sighed.