But George Voss would always say that he had no money, that he could not ask his father for money, and that he had not made up his mind to settle at Colmar.
Madame Faragon, who was naturally much interested in the matter, and was moreover not without curiosity, could never quite learn how matters stood at Granpere.

A word or two she had heard in a circuitous way of Marie Bromar, but from George himself she could never learn anything of his affairs at home.

She had asked him once or twice whether it would not be well that he should marry, but he had always replied that he did not think of such a thing--at any rate as yet.

He was a steady young man, given more to work than to play, and apparently not inclined to amuse himself with the girls of the neighbourhood.
One day Edmond Greisse was over at Colmar--Edmond Greisse, the lad whose untidy appearance at the supper-table at the Lion d'Or had called down the rebuke of Marie Bromar.

He had been sent over on some business by his employer, and had come to get his supper and bed at Madame Faragon's hotel.