But as soon as he entered, the sight of his sister explained the matter to him.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, partly astonished, partly uneasy; "is that you, Amelie ?" "Yes, it is I," she said.

Then, going close to her brother, and letting him kiss her forehead, she added in a supplicating voice: "You won't go, will you, dear Roland ?" "Go where ?" asked Roland.
"To the Chartreuse." "Good! Who told you that ?" "Oh! for one who knows, how difficult it is to guess!" "And why don't you want me to go to the Chartreuse ?" "I'm afraid something might happen to you." "What! So you believe in ghosts, do you ?" he asked, looking fixedly into Amelie's eyes.
Amelie lowered her glance, and Roland felt his sister's hand tremble in his.
"Come," said Roland; "Amelie, at least the one I used to know, General de Montrevel's daughter and Roland's sister, is too intelligent to yield to these vulgar terrors.

It's impossible that you can believe these tales of apparitions, chains, flames, spectres, and phantoms." "If I did believe them, Roland, I should not be so alarmed.

If ghosts do exist, they must be souls without bodies, and consequently cannot bring their material hatred from the grave.

Besides, why should a ghost hate you, Roland; you, who never harmed any one ?" "Good! You forget all those I have killed in war or in duels." Amelie shook her head.