"But it is a matter for others! We may be easy!" "What is it ?" "The Savoyards are in Geneva." She started incredulously.

"In Geneva?
Here ?" she exclaimed.

"The enemy ?" He nodded.
"Here?
In Geneva ?" she repeated.

She could not have heard aright.
"Yes." But she still looked at him; she could not reconcile his words with his manner.

This, the greatest calamity that could happen, this which she had been brought up to fear as the worst and most awful of catastrophes--could he talk of it, could he announce it after this fashion?
With a smile, in a tone of pleasantry?
He must be playing with her.