As soon as his meal was over, Michel Voss got up to go out about his business, as was usual with him.

Then Marie followed him into the passage.

'Uncle Michel,' she said, 'I want to speak to you for a moment; will you come with me ?' 'What is it about, Marie ?' 'If you will come, I will show you.' 'Show me! What will you show me ?' 'It's a letter, Uncle Michel.

Come up-stairs and you shall see it.' Then he followed her up-stairs, and in the long public room, which was at that hour deserted, she took out of her pocket the copy of her letter to Adrian Urmand, and put it into her uncle's hands.

'It is a letter, Uncle Michel, which I have written to M.Urmand.