It is deeply unusual to see Julius shaken. (Not unheard of; those who can remember impressions of the timeline where he was one of the few survivors of Granitefell may have an inkling. Even so.)

"I said I was going..." He'd been about to say home, but that snags at something when he's not sure he's ever called it that out loud before. Now doesn't seem like the time to start. Instead, he amends to, "I was going to let Mme de Cedoux and the Commander know I was well, since we'd been out of touch. Given that I was told to meet the rest of you here, I assume you're not going to be surprised at the lack of welcome I received."

He's getting a grip on himself and, oddly, Clarisse's rude tone is sort of helping. Someone has to work the problem instead of losing their head. Still, he's not fully there yet, so freshly off of where he's been and what he's seen.