He turned away again to open it.

He forced himself to say, in a tolerably calm voice, "I will send an answer." The letter was apparently from the baroness de Beaurepaire; a mere line inviting him to pay her a visit.

It was written in a tremulous hand.
Edouard examined the writing, and saw directly it was written by Rose.
Being now, naturally enough, full of suspicion, he set this down as an attempt to disguise her hand.

"So," said he, to himself, "this is the game.

The old woman is to be drawn into it, too.