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thee; it was thee whom I loved in him。  Surely thou dost not desire

that by a public avowal I should bring shame and disgrace on these

children and on myself。〃



She rose calm and strengthened: it seemed as if a heavenly

inspiration had marked out her duty。  To suffer in silence; such was

the course she adopted;a life of sacrifice and self…denial which

she offered to God as an expiation for her involuntary sin。  But who

can understand the workings of the human heart?  This man whom she

ought to have loathed; this man who had made her an innocent partner

in his crime; this unmasked impostor whom she should have beheld only

with disgust; she…loved him!  The force of habit; the ascendancy he

had obtained over her; the love he had shown her; a thousand

sympathies felt in her inmost heart; all these had so much influence;

that; instead of accusing and cursing him; she sought to excuse him

on the plea of a passion to which; doubtless; he had yielded when

usurping the name and place of another。  She feared punishment for

him yet more than disgrace for herself; and though resolved to no

longer allow him the rights purchased by crime; she yet trembled at

the idea of losing his love。  It was this above all which decided her

to keep eternal silence about her discovery; one single word which

proved that his imposture was known would raise an insurmountable

barrier between them。



To conceal her trouble entirely was; however; beyond her power; her

eyes frequently showed traces of her secret tears。  Martin several

times asked the cause of her sorrow; she tried to smile and excuse

herself; only immediately sinking back into her gloomy thoughts。

Martin thought it mere caprice; he observed her loss of colour; her

hollow cheeks; and concluded that age was impairing her beauty; and

became less attentive to her。  His absences became longer and more

frequent; and he did not conceal his impatience and annoyance at

being watched; for her looks hung upon his; and she observed his

coldness and change with much grief。  Having sacrificed all in order

to retain his love; she now saw it slowly slipping away from her。



Another person also observed attentively。  Pierre Guerre since his

explanation with Bertrande had apparently discovered no more

evidence; and did not dare to bring an accusation without some

positive proofs。  Consequently he lost no chance of watching the

proceedings of his supposed nephew; silently hoping that chance might

put him on the track of a discovery。  He also concluded from

Bertrande's state of melancholy that she had convinced herself of the

fraud; but had resolved to conceal it。



Martin was then endeavoring to sell a part of his property; and this

necessitated frequent interviews with the lawyers of the neighbouring

town。  Twice in the week he went to Rieux; and to make the journey

easier; used to start horseback about seven in the evening; sleep at

Rieux; and return the following afternoon。  This arrangement did not

escape his enemy's notice; who was not long in convincing himself

that part of the time ostensibly spent on this journey was otherwise

employed。



Towards ten o'clock on the evening of a dark night; the door of a

small house lying about half a gunshot from the village opened gently

for the exit of a man wrapped in a large cloak; followed by a young

woman; who accompanied him some distance。  Arrived at the parting

point; they separated with a tender kiss and a few murmured words of

adieu; the lover took his horse; which was fastened to a tree;

mounted; and rode off towards Rieux。  When the sounds died away; the

woman turned slowly and sadly towards her home; but as she approached

the door a man suddenly turned the corner of the house and barred her

away。  Terrified; she was on the point of crying for help; when he

seized her arm and ordered her to be silent。



〃Rose;〃 he whispered; 〃I know everything: that man is your lover。  In

order to receive him safely; you send your old husband to sleep by

means of a drug stolen from your father's shop。  This intrigue has

been going on for a month; twice a week; at seven o'clock; your door

is opened to this man; who does not proceed on his way to the town

until ten。  I know your lover: he is my nephew。〃



Petrified with terror; Rose fell on her knees and implored mercy。



〃Yes;〃 replied Pierre; 〃you may well be frightened: I have your

secret。  I have only to publish it and you are ruined for ever:〃



You will not do it!  〃entreated the guilty woman; clasping her hands。



〃I have only to tell your husband;〃 continued Pierre; 〃that his wife

has dishonoured him; and to explain the reason of his unnaturally

heavy sleep。〃



〃He will kill me!〃



〃No doubt: he is jealous; he is an Italian; he will know how to

avenge himselfeven as I do。〃



〃But I never did you any harm;〃 Rose cried in despair。  〃Oh! have

pity; have mercy; and spare me!〃



〃On one condition。〃



〃What is it?〃



〃Come with me。〃



Terrified almost out of her mind; Rose allowed him to lead her away。



Bertrande had just finished her evening prayer; and was preparing for

bed; when she was startled by several knocks at her door。  Thinking

that perhaps some neighbour was in need of help; she opened it

immediately; and to her astonishment beheld a dishevelled woman whom

Pierre grasped by the arm。  He exclaimed vehemently



〃Here is thy judge!  Now; confess all to Bertrande!〃



Bertrande did not at once recognise the woman; who fell at her feet;

overcome by Pierre's threats。



〃Tell the truth here;〃 he continued; 〃or I go and tell it to your

husband; at your own home!〃  〃 Ah! madame; kill me;〃 said the unhappy

creature; hiding her face; 〃let me rather die by your hand than his!〃



Bertrande; bewildered; did not understand the position in the least;

but she recognised Rose



〃But what is the matter; madame?  Why are you here at this hour; pale

and weeping?  Why has my uncle dragged you hither?  I am to judge

you; does he say?  Of what crime are you guilty?〃



〃Martin might answer that; if he were here;〃 remarked Pierre。



A lightning flash of jealousy shot through Bertrande's soul at these

words; all her former suspicions revived。



〃What!〃 she said; 〃my husband!  What do you mean?〃



〃That he left this woman's house only a little while ago; that for a

month they have been meeting secretly。  You are betrayed: I have seen

them and she does not dare to deny it。〃



〃Have mercy!〃 cried Rose; still kneeling。



The cry was a confession。  Bertrande became pate as death。  〃O God!〃

she murmured; 〃deceived; betrayedand by him!〃



〃For a month past;〃 repeated the old man。



〃Oh! the wretch;〃 she continued; with increasing passion; 〃 then his

whole life is a lie!  He has abused my credulity; he now abuses my

love!  He does not know me!  He thinks he can trample on meme; in

whose power are his fortune; his honour; his very life itself!〃



Then; turning to Rose



〃And you; miserable woman! by what unworthy artifice did you gain his

love?  Was it by witchcraft? or some poisonous philtre learned from

your worthy father?〃



〃Alas! no; madame; my weakness is my only crime; and also my only

excuse。  I loved him; long ago; when I was only a young girl; and

these memories have been my ruin。〃



〃Memories?  What! did you also think you were loving the same man?

Are you also his dupe?  Or are you only pretending; in order to find

a rag of excuse to cover your wickedness?〃



It was now Rose who failed to understand; Bertrande continued; with

growing excitement



〃Yes; it was not enough to usurp the rights of a husband and father;

he thought to play his part still better by deceiving the mistress

also 。  。  。  。  Ah! it is amusing; is it not?  You also; Rose; you

thought he was your old lover!  Well; I at least am excusable; I the

wife; who only thought she was faithful to her husband!〃



〃What does it all mean?〃 asked the terrified Rose。



〃It means that this man is an impostor and that I will unmask him。

Revenge! revenge!〃



Pierre came forward。  〃Bertrande;〃 he said; 〃so long as I thought you

were happy; when I feared to disturb your peace; I was silent; I

repressed my just indignation; and I spared the usurper of the name

and rights of my nephew。  Do you now give me leave to speak?〃



〃Yes;〃 she replied in a hollow voice。



〃You will not contradict me?〃



By way of answer she sat down by the table and wrote a few hasty

lines with a trembling hand; then gave them to Pierre; whose eyes

sparkled with joy。



〃Yes;〃 he said; 〃vengeance for him; but for her pity。  Let this

humiliation be her only punishment。  I promised silence in return for

confession; will you grant it?〃



Bertrande assented with a contemptuous gesture。



〃Go; fear not;〃 said the old man; and Rose went out。  Pierre also

left the house。



Left to herself; Bertrande felt 

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