As soon as the bell was heard through the house, Michel Voss, who
was waiting below with his wife in a quiet unusual manner,
marshalled the way upstairs. He had partly expected that Marie
would join them below, and was becoming fidgety lest she should
break away from her engagement. He went first, and then followed
Adrian and Madame Voss together. The accustomed guests were all
ready, because it had come to be generally understood that this
supper was to be as it were a supper of betrothal. Madame Voss had
on her black silk gown. Michel had changed his coat and his cravat.
Adrian Urmand was exceedingly smart. The dullest intellect could
perceive that there was something special in the wind. The two old
ladies who were lodgers in the house came out from their rooms five
minutes earlier than usual, and met the cortege from downstairs in
the passage.

When Michel entered the room he at once looked round for Marie.
There she was standing at the soup-tureen with her back to the
company. But he could see that there hung down some ribbon from her
waist, that her frock was not the one she had worn in the morning,
and that in the article of her attire she had kept her word with
him. He was very awkward. When one of the old ladies was about to
seat herself in the chair next to Adrian--in preparation for which
it must be admitted that Marie had made certain wicked arrangements-
-Michel first by signs and afterwards with audible words, intended
to be whispered, indicated to the lady that she was required to
place herself elsewhere. This was hard upon the lady, as her own
table-napkin and a cup out of which she was wont to drink were
placed at that spot. Marie, standing at the soup-tureen, heard it
all and became very spiteful. Then her uncle called to her: