"It was a traveller who stayed some time with us."
"When your mother was alive?"
"Oh! yes, monsieur!"
Edouard said no more; in spite of himself vague suspicions assailed his mind. To dissipate them he glanced at the girl, whose every feature was so instinct with innocence. After several minutes passed thus, he realized that he ought to return to the château, for he wished that his absence should not be noticed, or, at all events, to conceal the fact that he had been to Chadrat. So he rose and said to Isaure:
"I must leave you now."
"Already, monsieur?" said the girl ingenuously.
"What!" cried Edouard; "may I hope that my presence has given you some pleasure?"
"As I have told you, monsieur, I very seldom have an opportunity to talk with anyone here in the mountains."
"Oh! to be sure," said Edouard more coldly; "and that is the only reason?"
He interrupted himself, thinking: