"Monsieur de Montfanon is somewhat formal.

He would like to have your reply by letter." "Prince Ardea to marry Mademoiselle Hafner!" That cry which the news brought by Julien wrested from Montfanon was so dolorous that the young man did not think of laughing.

He had thought it wiser to prepare his irascible friend, lest the Baron might make some allusion to the grand event during the course of the conversation, and that the other might not make some impulsive remark.
"Did I not tell you that the girl's Catholicism was a farce?
Did I not tell Monseigneur Guerillot?
This was what she aimed at all those years, with such perfect hypocrisy?
It was the Palais Castagna.

And she will enter there as mistress!...

She will bring there the dishonor of that pirated gold on which there are stains of blood! Warn them, that they do not speak to me of it, or I will not answer for myself....