A letter came from Rosine by the first mail, containing a secret that Clerambault had guessed long ago.  Daniel had spoken to his parents, and the marriage would take place the next time he came home from the front.  She went through the form of asking the consent of her father and mother, but she knew that her wishes were theirs.  Her letter radiated happiness and a triumphant security that nothing could shake.  The sad riddle of the agonised world had found an answer, and in the absorption of her young love the universal suffering; did not seem too high a price for the flower that bloomed for her on this bloody stem.  In the midst of it all, she was tender and compassionate as usual, remembering the troubles of others, her father and his worries.  But she seemed to put her happy arms about them, with a simple affectionate conceit, as if she said:  “Please don’t worry any more over all these ideas, darlings!  It is foolish of you to be sad, when you see that happiness is coming.”

Clerambault smiled tenderly as he read the letter.  No doubt happiness was on the way, but some of us cannot wait for it.  “Greet it from me, my little Rose, and do not let it fly away.”

About eleven o’clock the Count de Coulanges came to ask after him; he had seen Moreau and Gillot mounting guard before the door.  They had come to escort Clerambault according to their promise, but they had not dared to come up because they were an hour too early.  Clerambault sent for them, laughing at their excess of zeal, and they admitted that they had thought him perfectly capable of sneaking out of the house without waiting for them; an idea which he confessed had crossed his mind.

The news from the front was good; during the last few days the German offensive had wavered; strange signs of weakness began to appear; and well-founded rumours made it evident that there was a secret disorganisation in the formidable mass.  People said that the limit of his strength had been passed and that the athlete was exhausted.  There was talk also of contagion from the Russian revolutionary spirit brought by the German troops that had been on the Eastern Front.

With the usual mobility of the French mind, the pessimists of yesterday began to shout for the approaching victory.  Already Moreau discounted the calming down of passions and the return to common sense.  The reconciliation of the nations and the triumph of Clerambault’s ideas would follow shortly.  He advised them not to deceive themselves too much, and amused himself by describing what would happen when peace was signed; for peace would have to come some day.