After Edouard's departure, Josephine de Beaurepaire was sad, and weighed down with presentiments.

She felt as soldiers sometimes feel who know the enemy is undermining them; no danger on the surface; nothing that can be seen, met, baffled, attacked, or evaded; in daily peril, all the more horrible that it imitates perfect serenity, they await the fatal match.

She imparted her misgivings to Aubertin; but he assured her she exaggerated the danger.
"We have a friend still more zealous and active than our enemy; believe me, your depression is really caused by his absence; we all miss the contact of that young heroic spirit; we are a body, and he its soul." Josephine was silent, for she said to herself, "Why should I dash their spirits?
they are so happy and confident." Edouard had animated Rose and Aubertin with his own courage, and had even revived the baroness.
It had been agreed between him and Picard that the latter should communicate with Dr.Aubertin direct, should anything fresh occur.

And on the third day after Edouard's departure, Picard sent up a private message: "Perrin has just sent me a line to say he will not trouble us, as he is offered the money in another quarter." This was a heavy blow, and sent them all to bed more or less despondent.
The next day brought a long letter from Edouard to Rose, telling her he had found his uncle crusty at first; but at last with a little patience, and the co-operation of Martha, his uncle's old servant, and his nurse, the old boy had come round.

They might look on the affair as all but settled.
The contents of this letter were conveyed to the baroness.