He was not ruffled, however, and he handed her a letter which, though addressed to her, he had quietly opened.

It was a letter from Georges, who was still a prisoner at Les Fondettes and comforted himself weekly with the composition of glowing pages.

Nana loved to be written to, especially when the letters were full of grand, loverlike expressions with a sprinkling of vows.

She used to read them to everybody.

Fontan was familiar with the style employed by Georges and appreciated it.