midnight
The father thus passed twice through Colmar , but on neither occasion did he call upon his son . There had been very little said between Michel Voss and Urmand on their journey towards Granpere till they were at the top of the Vosges , on the mountain road , at which place they had to leave their little carriage and bait their horse . Indeed Michel had been asleep during almost the entire time . On the night but one before he had not been in bed at all , having reached Basle after midnight , and having passed the hours ` twixt that and his morning visit to Urmand 's house in his futile endeavours to stop poor Marie 's letter . And the departure of the travellers from Basle on this morning had been very early , so that the poor innkeeper had been robbed of his proper allowance of natural rest . He had slept soundly in the train to Colmar , and had afterwards slept in the little caleche which had taken them to the top of the mountain . Urmand had sat silent by his side , -- by no means anxious to disturb his companion , because he had no determined plan ready to communicate .