Voss felt that he might give his niece to him without danger, if he
and she could manage to like each other sufficiently. As to
Urmand's liking, there was no doubt. Urmand was ready enough.

'I will see if she will speak to me just now,' said Urmand after a
pause.

'Shall her aunt try it, or shall I do it?' said Michel.

But Adrian Urmand thought that part of the pleasure of love lay in
the making of it himself. So he declined the innkeeper's offer, at
any rate for the present occasion. 'Perhaps,' said he, 'Madame Voss
will say a word for me after I have spoken for myself.'

'So let it be,' said the landlord. And then they finished their
cigars in silence.

It was in vain that Adrian Urmand tried that night to obtain
audience from Marie. Marie, as though she well knew what was wanted
of her and was determined to thwart her lover, would not allow
herself to be found alone for a moment. When Adrian presented
himself at the window of her little bar, he found that Peter was
with her, and she managed to keep Peter with her till Adrian was
gone. And again, when he hoped to find her alone for a few moments
after the work of the day was over in the small parlour where she
was accustomed to sit for some half hour before she would go up to
her room, he was again disappointed. She was already up-stairs with
her aunt and the children, and all Michel Voss's good nature in
keeping out of the way was of no avail.