"You?"
"Yes, I, whenever you choose; say the word, and I promise you that your rival will not find the little one at her house to-morrow."
Alfred gazed at the vagabond for some moments, and then exclaimed:
"You are a miserable villain! Leave me, say nothing more to me! I blush to think that I have listened to such propositions!"
The stranger replied with a sneering laugh:
"What! just a little abduction of a girl who asks nothing better! A mere trick frightens you! Oh! I thought that you were farther advanced than that, monsieur le baron; but just as you please. Let your friend enjoy himself at your expense, let the girl laugh in her sleeve at your respect! After all, what difference does it make to me? But I will wager that before long you will see that my advice was good; then, if you need me, you will find me still, for I do not bear a grudge for a word.—Au revoir!"
The stranger turned his back on Alfred and disappeared by a narrow path among the cliffs, and young De Marcey, after a moment’s reflection, turned and rode back to the château, instead of pursuing his journey.
XXII
THE LA PINCERIE FAMILY AT THE CHÂTEAU
The vagabond’s aspect and suggestions had produced upon Alfred’s mind an effect different from that which that man apparently hoped. Disgusted by the wretch’s hateful propositions, Alfred reflected upon the injustice of his conduct toward Edouard; he felt that he ought not to consider it a crime in him to have triumphed over him; and if Isaure really loved him, he vowed that he would not seek to interfere with his friend’s happiness.
More content with himself after taking this resolution, Alfred, when he saw Edouard again, far from manifesting the same coolness as in the morning, spoke to him as was his habit before their rivalry. Edouard, no less surprised than delighted by this change in Alfred’s humor, felt much happier since he had reason to hope that he had recovered his friend.