'Let me tell you, M. Voss, that I wouldn't have the young woman, as you call her, if she consented ever so much. She has disgraced me.' To this Michel listened with perfect equanimity. 'She has disgraced you.' At hearing this Michel bit his lips, telling himself, however, that there had been mistakes made, and that he was bound to bear a good deal. 'And she has disgraced herself,' said Adrian Urmand, with all the emphasis that he had at command. 'I deny it,' said Marie's uncle, coming close up to his opponent, and standing before him. 'I deny it. It is not true. That shall not be said in my hearing, even by you.' 'But I do say it. She has disgraced herself. Did she not give me her troth, when all the time she intended to marry another man?' 'No! She did nothing of the kind. And look here, my friend, if you wish to be treated like a man in this house, you had better not say anything against any of the women who live in it. You may abuse me as much as you please,--and George too, if it will do you any good. There have been mistakes made, and we owe you something.' 'By heavens, yes; you do.' 'But you sha'n't take it out in saying anything against Marie Bromar,--not in my hearing.' 'Why;--what will you do?' 'Don't drive me to do anything, M. Urmand. If there is any compensation possible--' 'Of course there must be compensation.' 'What is it you will take? Is it money?' 'Money;--no. As for money, I'm better off than any of you.' 'What is it, then? You don't want the girl herself?' 'No;--certainly not. I would not take her if she came and knelt to me.' 'What can we do, then? If you will only say.' 'I want--I want--I don't know what I want. I have been cruelly ill-used, and made a fool of before everybody. I never heard of such a case before;--never. And I have been so generous and honest to you! I did not ask for a franc of dot; and now you come and offer me money. I don't think any man ever was so badly used anywhere.' And on saying this Adrian Urmand in very truth burst into tears. The innkeeper's heart was melted at once. It was all so true! Between them they had treated him very badly. But then there had been so many unfortunate and unavoidable mistakes! When the young man talked of compensation, what was Michel Voss to think? His son had been led into exactly the same error. Nevertheless, he repented himself bitterly in that he had said anything about money, and was prepared to make the most abject apologies. Adrian Urmand had fallen into a chair, and Michel Voss came and seated himself close beside him. 'I beg your pardon, Urmand; I do indeed. I ought not to have mentioned money. But when you spoke of compensation--' 'It wasn't that. It wasn't that. It's my feelings!' Then the white cambric handkerchief was taken out and used with considerable vehemence.