He decided to call upon Isaure also. He desired to assure himself with his own eyes of her preference for Edouard, and to know whether he had not deceived him. So he took the only remaining horse, and left the château a quarter of an hour after Edouard. This time he did not urge his steed, for he was reflecting upon the best method of ascertaining the truth. He would have liked to listen to his rival without being seen; and yet the thought of watching, of spying upon anyone, was too repugnant to his frank disposition for him to harbor it a moment.
He was only a short distance from Isaure's cottage, when someone, jumping out suddenly from behind a rock, caught his horse by the bridle, saying:
"You will arrive too late; another is ahead of you."
Alfred recognized the vagabond, who stood leaning upon his stick, with his gleaming eyes fastened upon the young man.
"Ah! it is you, is it?" said Alfred; "what do you mean?"
"That you started too late. Your rival is an earlier bird than you, and he makes the most of his time. Yesterday you did not come. But he did, and he went away very happy!"
These words were accompanied by a mocking smile. The stranger's features wore an even more malicious and evil expression than usual.
"How do you know all this?" demanded Alfred.
"How do I know it? Parbleu! it's not very difficult to know. Lovers always think themselves alone, and they do not trouble themselves to conceal their feelings. I had plenty of time to count their kisses!"
"Their kisses!" replied Alfred, trembling with anger.
"Why, yes! Does that surprise you? Oh! your friend doesn't go slow; with his little sugary way, he gets ahead! What surprises me is that you, who seem accustomed to the ways of the world, are not more advanced than he."
"But," replied Alfred, stifling a sigh, "since it is Edouard whom she prefers----"
"Whom she prefers! Nonsense! As if these little girls ever had a preference! They love everybody, everybody who makes love to them. She would have loved you, if you didn't always come last. However, whenever you choose, it will rest entirely with you to carry the day. Don't you know that with time and money one can accomplish everything?"
"Really," said Alfred, gazing at the vagabond in surprise, "you have principles which I should never have expected to find in an old soldier."