The worthy man was astounded.
“Heh? What? He is to marry Mme. Rosémilly?”
“Yes, we meant to ask your opinion about it this very day.”
“Bless me! And has this engagement been long in the wind?”
“Oh, no, only a very few days. Jean wished to make sure that she would accept him before consulting you.”
Roland rubbed his hands.
“Very good. Very good. It is capital. I entirely approve.”
As they were about to turn off from the quay down the Boulevard François, his wife once more looked back to cast a last look at the high seas, but she could see nothing now but a puff of gray smoke, so far away, so faint that it looked like a film of haze.