That same night, M. de Renal received from town, along with his newspaper, a long anonymous letter, which informed him in the greatest detail of what was going on in his house. Julien saw him turn pale as he read the letter, written on bluish paper, and cast evil glances at him. Not for the whole evening did the mayor regain his composure; it was to no avail that Julien courted his favor by asking for explanations about the genealogy of the best families in Burgundy.