Combeferre smiles in response. He can't really help it, not with Joly giggling like that.

We are, he doesn't say. After all, is Milliways even a real place? An actual world? Or just--a holding cell, of sorts?

"Yes, we did," he says, with determined brightness. He turns back to Matelote, still bracing Joly up with one arm.

"I suppose this place must have changed a great deal! Our uncles described it...very differently." For one thing, Combeferre would eat the food here with no worries for his health.