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a cheat。〃



A crucifix was placed before Bertrande; she made a sign as if to push

it away; endeavoured to speak; and feebly exclaimed; 〃No;〃 then fell

to the ground; and was carried out insensible。



This scene considerably shook the opinion of the magistrates。  They

could not believe that an impostor; whatever he might be; would have

sufficient daring and presence of mind thus to turn into mockery all

that was most sacred。  They set a new inquiry on foot; which; instead

of producing enlightenment; only plunged them into still greater

obscurity。  Out of thirty witnesses heard; more than three…quarters

agreed in identifying as Martin Guerre the man who claimed his name。

Never was greater perplexity caused by more extraordinary

appearances。  The remarkable resemblance upset all reasoning: some

recognised him as Arnauld du Thill; and others asserted the exact

contrary。  He could hardly understand Basque; some said; though born

in Biscay; was that astonishing; seeing he was only three when he

left the country?  He could neither wrestle nor fence well; but

having no occasion to practise these exercises he might well have

forgotten them。  The shoemakerwho made his shoes afore…time;

thought he took another measure; but he might have made a mistake

before or be mistaken now。  The prisoner further defended himself by

recapitulating the circumstances of his first meeting with Bertrande;

on his return; the thousand and one little details he had mentioned

which he only could have known; also the letters in his possession;

all of which could only be explained by the assumption that he was

the veritable Martin Guerre。  Was it likely that he would be wounded

over the left eye and leg as the missing man was supposed to be?  Was

it likely that the old servant; that the four sisters; his uncle

Pierre; many persons to whom he had related facts known only to

himself; that all the community in short; would have recognised him?

And even the very intrigue suspected by Bertrande; which had aroused

her jealous anger; this very intrigue; if it really existed; was it

not another proof of the verity of his claim; since the person

concerned; as interested and as penetrating as the legitimate wife;

had also accepted him as her former lover?  Surely here was a mass of

evidence sufficient to cast light on the case。  Imagine an impostor

arriving for the first time in a place where all the inhabitants are

unknown to him; and attempting to personate a man who had dwelt

there; who would have connections of all kinds; who would have played

his part in a thousand different scenes; who would have confided his

secrets; his opinions; to relations; friends; acquaintances; to all

sorts of people; who had also a wifethat is to say; a person under

whose eyes nearly his whole life would be passed; a person would

study him perpetually; with whom he would be continually conversing

on every sort of subject。  Could such an impostor sustain his

impersonation for a single day; without his memory playing him false?

》From the physical and moral impossibility of playing such a part; was

it not reasonable to conclude that the accused; who had maintained it

for more than two years; was the true Martin Guerre?



There seemed; in fact; to be nothing which could account for such an

attempt being successfully made unless recourse was had to an

accusation of sorcery。  The idea of handing him over to the

ecclesiastical authorities was briefly discussed; but proofs were

necessary; and the judges hesitated。  It is a principle of justice;

which has become a precept in law; that in cases of uncertainty the

accused has the benefit of the doubt; but at the period of which we

are writing; these truths were far from being acknowledged; guilt was

presumed rather than innocence; and torture; instituted to force

confession from those who could not otherwise be convicted; is only

explicable by supposing the judges convinced of the actual guilt of

the accused; for no one would have thought of subjecting a possibly

innocent person to this suffering。  However; notwithstanding this

prejudice; which has been handed down to us by some organs of the

public ministry always disposed to assume the guilt of a suspected

person;notwithstanding this prejudice; the judges in this case

neither ventured to condemn Martin Guerre themselves as an impostor;

nor to demand the intervention of the Church。  In this conflict of

contrary testimony; which seemed to reveal the truth only to

immediately obscure it again; in this chaos of arguments and

conjectures which showed flashes of light only to extinguish them in

greater darkness; consideration for the family prevailed。  The

sincerity of Bertrande; the future of the children; seemed reasons

for proceeding with extreme caution; and this once admitted; could

only yield to conclusive evidence。  Consequently the Parliament

adjourned the case; matters remaining in 'statu quo'; pending a more

exhaustive inquiry。  Meanwhile; the accused; for whom several

relations and friends gave surety; was allowed to be at liberty at

Artigues; though remaining under careful surveillance。



Bertrande therefore again saw him an inmate of the house; as if no

doubts had ever been cast on the legitimacy of their union。  What

thoughts passed through her mind during the long 'tete…a…tete'?  She

had accused this man of imposture; and now; notwithstanding her

secret conviction; she was obliged to appear as if she had no

suspicion; as if she had been mistaken; to humiliate herself before

the impostor; and ask forgiveness for the insanity of her conduct;

for; having publicly renounced her accusation by refusing to swear to

it; she had no alternative left。  In order to sustain her part and to

save the honour o£ her children; she must treat this man as her

husband and appear submissive and repentant; she must show him entire

confidence; as the only means of rehabilitating him and lulling the

vigilance of justice。  What the widow of Martin Guerre must have

suffered in this life of effort was a secret between God and herself;

but she looked at her little daughter; she thought of her fast

approaching confinement; and took courage。



One evening; towards nightfall; she was sitting near him in the most

private corner of the garden; with her little child on her knee;

whilst the adventurer; sunk in gloomy thoughts; absently stroked

Sanxi's fair head。 Both were silent; for at the bottom of their

hearts each knew the other's thoughts; and; no longer able to talk

familiarly; nor daring to appear estranged; they spent; when alone

together; long hours of silent dreariness。



All at once a loud uproar broke the silence of their retreat; they

heard the exclamations of many persons; cries of surprise mixed with

angry tones; hasty footsteps; then the garden gate was flung

violently open; and old Marguerite appeared; pale; gasping; almost

breathless。  Bertrande hastened towards her in astonishment; followed

by her husband; but when near enough to speak she could only answer

with inarticulate sounds; pointing with terror to the courtyard of

the house。  They looked in this direction; and saw a man standing at

the threshold; they approached him。  He stepped forward; as if to

place himself between them。  He was tall; dark; his clothes were

torn; he had a wooden leg; his countenance was stern。  He surveyed

Bertrande with a gloomy look: she cried aloud; and fell back

insensible; 。 。 。 she recognised her real husband!



Arnauld du Thill stood petrified。  While Marguerite; distracted

herself; endeavoured to revive her mistress; the neighbours;

attracted by the noise; invaded the house; and stopped; gazing with

stupefaction at this astonishing resemblance。  The two men had the

same features; the same height; the same bearing; and suggested one

being in two persons。  They gazed at each other in terror; and in

that superstitious age the idea of sorcery and of infernal

intervention naturally occurred to those present。  All crossed

themselves; expecting every moment to see fire from heaven strike one

or other of the two men; or that the earth would engulf one of them。

Nothing happened; however; except that both were promptly arrested;

in order that the strange mystery might be cleared up。



The wearer of the wooden leg; interrogated by the judges; related

that he came from Spain; where first the healing of his wound; and

then the want of money; had detained him hitherto。  He had travelled

on foot; almost a beggar。  He gave exactly the same reasons for

leaving Artigues as had been given by the other Martin Guerre;

namely; a domestic quarrel caused by jealous suspicion; the desire of

seeing other countries; and an adventurous disposition。  He had gone

back to his birthplace; in Biscay; thence he entered the service of

the Cardinal of Burgos; then the cardinal's brother had taken him to

the war; and he had served with the Spanish troo

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