Daphne wasn't in favor of the fact that Robert may be alive, not after 4 years of being out there - being someone like him and not seeing one sign that he was there. She had moved on, starting a new life and had found new love. And at any rate she was starting to get testy because of the trying day.
"I know about Camille Desmoulins, sir. I was there for 4 years and not once did I see a sign that he was alive. And if he was still alive, and he loved me the way he said he did, he would have found me. I know you didn't mean anything by suggesting he's still alive, but if he's dead, then he's still the romantic American I met in Paris. If he's alive then he's just a bloody great arse." Though her words were harsh, they were said with grace and emotion.