Marie, who was in and out of the room during the time, would not sit
down with them. When pressed to do so by her uncle, she declared
that she had eaten lately and was not hungry. It was seldom that
she would sit down to dinner, and this therefore gave rise to no
special remark. 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. It
went this morning, and you must see it.'

'A letter to Urmand,' he said, as he took the paper suspiciously
into his hands.

'Yes, Uncle Michel. I was obliged to write it. It is the truth,
and I was obliged to let him know it. I am afraid you will be angry
with me, and--turn me away; but I cannot help it.'

The letter was as follows: