Hisunclecoughedandclearedhisvoicebeforereplying，thensaidslowly，asifcountinghiswords——
\"Itisallaccountedfor，mydearnephew;Heavenbepraised！Idon\'toweyouanything。\"
\"What！\"exclaimedtheastonishedMartin，\"butthewholeincome？\"
\"Waswellandproperlyemployedinthemaintenanceofyourwifeandchild。\"
\"What！athousandlivresforthat？AndBertrandelivedalone，soquietlyandsimply！Nonsense！itisimpossible。\"
\"Anysurplus，\"resumedtheoldman，quiteunmoved，——\"anysurpluswenttopaytheexpensesofseed—timeandharvest。\"
\"What！atatimewhenlabourcostsnexttonothing？\"
\"Hereistheaccount，\"saidPierre。
\"Thentheaccountisafalseone，\"returnedhisnephew。
Pierrethoughtitadvisabletoappearextremelyoffendedandangry，andMartin，exasperatedathisevidentdishonesty，tookstillhigherground，andthreatenedtobringanactionagainsthim。Pierreorderedhimtoleavethehouse，andsuitingactionstowords，tookholdofhisarmtoenforcehisdeparture。Martin，furious，turnedandraisedhisfisttostrike。
\"What！strikeyouruncle，wretchedboy！\"exclaimedtheoldman。
Martin\'shanddropped，butheleftthehouseutteringreproachesandinsults，amongwhichPierredistinguished——
\"Cheatthatyouare！\"
\"ThatisawordIshallremember，\"criedtheangryoldman，slamminghisdoorviolently。
MartinbroughtanactionbeforethejudgeatRieux，andincourseoftimeobtainedadecree，which，reviewingtheaccountspresentedbyPierre，disallowedthem，andcondemnedthedishonestguardiantopayhisnephewfourhundredlivresforeachyearofhisadministration。
Thedayonwhichthissumhadtobedisbursedfromhisstrongboxtheoldusurervowedvengeance，butuntilhecouldgratifyhishatredhewasforcedtoconcealit，andtoreceiveattemptsatreconciliationwithafriendlysmile。Itwasnotuntilsixmonthslater，ontheoccasionofajoyousfestivity，thatMartinagainsetfootinhisuncle\'shouse。Thebellswereringingforthebirthofachild，therewasgreatgaietyatBertrande\'shouse，wherealltheguestswerewaitingonthethresholdforthegodfatherinordertotaketheinfanttochurch，andwhenMartinappeared，escortinghisuncle，whowasadornedwithahugebouquetfortheoccasion，andwhonowcameforwardandtookthehandofRose，theprettygodmother，therewerecriesofjoyonallsides。Bertrandewasdelightedatthisreconciliation，anddreamedonlyofhappiness。Shewassohappynow，herlongsorrowwasatonedfor，herregretwasatanend，herprayersseemedtohavebeenheard，thelongintervalbetweentheformerdelightsandthepresentseemedwipedoutasifthebondofunionhadneverbeenbroken，andifsherememberedhergriefatall，itwasonlytointensifythenewjoysbycomparison。Shelovedherhusbandmorethanever;hewasfullofaffectionforher，andshewasgratefulforhislove。Thepasthadnownoshadow，thefuturenocloud，andthebirthofadaughter，drawingstillcloserthelinkswhichunitedthem，seemedanewpledgeoffelicity。Alas！thehorizonwhichappearedsobrightandcleartothepoorwomanwasdoomedsoonagaintobeovercast。
Theveryeveningofthechristeningparty，abandofmusiciansandjugglershappenedtopassthroughthevillage，andtheinhabitantsshowedthemselvesliberal。Pierreaskedquestions，andfoundthattheleaderofthebandwasaSpaniard。Heinvitedthemantohisownhouse，andremainedclosetedwithhimfornearlyanhour，dismissinghimatlengthwitharefilledpurse。TwodayslatertheoldmanannouncedtothefamilythathewasgoingtoPicardytoseeaformerpartneronamatterofbusiness，andhedepartedaccordingly，sayingheshouldreturnbeforelong。
ThedayonwhichBertrandeagainsawherunclewas，indeed，aterribleone。Shewassittingbythecradleofthelately—borninfant，watchingforitsawakening，whenthedooropened，andPierreGuerrestrodein。Bertrandedrewbackwithaninstinctofterrorassoonasshesawhim，forhisexpressionwasatoncewickedandjoyful——anexpressionofgratifiedhate，ofmingledrageandtriumph，andhissmilewasterribletobehold。Shedidnotventuretospeak，butmotionedhimtoaseat。Hecamestraightuptoher，andraisinghishead，saidloudly——
\"Kneeldownatonce，madame——kneeldown，andaskpardonfromAlmightyGod！\"
\"Areyoumad，Pierre？\"shereplied，gazingathiminastonishment。
\"You，atleast，oughttoknowthatIamnot。\"
\"Prayforforgiveness——I——！andwhatfor，inHeaven\'sname？\"
\"Forthecrimeinwhichyouareanaccomplice。\"
\"Pleaseexplainyourself。\"
\"Oh！\"saidPierre，withbitterirony，\"awomanalwaysthinksherselfinnocentaslongashersinishidden;shethinksthetruthwillneverbeknown，andherconsciencegoesquietlytosleep，forgettingherfaults。Hereisawomanwhothoughthersinsnicelyconcealed;
chancefavouredher:anabsenthusband，probablynomore;anothermansoexactlylikehiminheight，face，andmannerthateveryoneelseisdeceived！Isitstrangethataweak，sensitivewoman，weariedofwidowhood，shouldwillinglyallowherselftobeimposedon？\"
Bertrandelistenedwithoutunderstanding;shetriedtointerrupt，butPierrewenton——
\"Itwaseasytoacceptthisstrangerwithouthavingtoblushforit，easytogivehimthenameandtherightsofahusband！Shecouldevenappearfaithfulwhilereallyguilty;shecouldseemconstant，thoughreallyfickle;andshecould，underaveilofmystery，atoncereconcileherhonour，herduty——perhapsevenherlove。\"
\"Whatonearthdoyoumean？\"criedBertrande，wringingherhandsinterror。
\"Thatyouarecountenancinganimpostorwhoisnotyourhusband。\"
Feelingasifthegroundwerepassingfrombeneathher，Bertrandestaggered，andcaughtatthenearestpieceoffurnituretosaveherselffromfalling;then，collectingallherstrengthtomeetthisextraordinaryattack，shefacedtheoldman。
\"What！myhusband，yournephew，animpostor！\"
\"Don\'tyouknowit？\"
\"I！！\"
Thiscry，whichcamefromherheart，convincedPierrethatshedidnotknow，andthatshehadsustainedaterribleshock。Hecontinuedmorequietly——
\"What，Bertrande，isitpossibleyouwerereallydeceived？\"
\"Pierre，youarekillingme;yourwordsaretorture。Nomoremystery，Ientreat。Whatdoyouknow？Whatdoyoususpect？Tellmeplainlyatonce。\"
\"Haveyoucouragetohearit？\"
\"Imust，\"saidthetremblingwoman。
\"GodismywitnessthatIwouldwillinglyhavekeptitfromyou，butyoumustknow;ifonlyforthesafetyofyoursoulentangledinsodeadlyasnare，……thereisyettime，ifyoufollowmyadvice。
Listen:themanwithwhomyouareliving，whodarestocallhimselfMartinGuerre，isacheat，animpostor————\"
\"Howdareyousayso？\"
\"BecauseIhavediscoveredit。Yes，Ihadalwaysavaguesuspicion，anuneasyfeeling，andinspiteofthemarvellousresemblanceIcouldneverfeelasifhewerereallymysister\'schild。Thedayheraisedhishandtostrikeme——yes，thatdayIcondemnedhimutterly……
Chancehasjustifiedme！AwanderingSpaniard，anoldsoldier，whospentanightinthevillagehere，wasalsopresentatthebattleofSt。Quentin，andsawMartinGuerrereceiveaterriblegunshotwoundintheleg。Afterthebattle，beingwounded，hebetookhimselftotheneighbouringvillage，anddistinctlyheardasurgeoninthenextroomsaythatawoundedmanmusthavehislegamputated，andwouldverylikelynotsurvivetheoperation。Thedooropened，hesawthesufferer，andknewhimforMartinGuerre。SomuchtheSpaniardtoldme。Actingonthisinformation，Iwentonpretenceofbusinesstothevillagehenamed，Iquestionedtheinhabitants，andthisiswhatIlearned。\"
\"Well？\"saidBertrande，pale，andgaspingwithemotion。
\"Ilearnedthatthewoundedmanhadhislegtakenoff，and，asthesurgeonpredicted，hemusthavediedinafewhours，forhewasneverseenagain。\"
Bertranderemainedafewmomentsasifannihilatedbythisappallingrevelation;then，endeavoringtorepelthehorriblethought——
\"No，\"shecried，\"no，itisimpossible！Itisalieintendedtoruinhim—toruinusall。\"
\"What！youdonotbelieveme？\"
\"No，never，never！\"
\"Sayratheryoupretendtodisbelieveme:thetruthhaspiercedyourheart，butyouwishtodenyit。Think，however，ofthedangertoyourimmortalsoul。\"
\"Silence，wretchedman！……No，Godwouldnotsendmesoterribleatrial。Whatproofcanyoushowofthetruthofyourwords？\"
\"ThewitnessesIhavementioned。\"
\"Nothingmore？\"
\"No，notasyet。\"
\"Fineproofsindeed！Thestoryofavagabondwhoflatteredyourhatredinhopeofareward，thegossipofadistantvillage，therecollectionsoftenyearsback，andfinally，yourownword，thewordofamanwhoseeksonlyrevenge，thewordofamanwhosworetomakeMartinpaydearlyfortheresultsofhisownavarice，amanoffuriouspassionssuchasyours！No，Pierre，no，Idonotbelieveyou，andIneverwill！\"
\"Otherpeoplemayperhapsbelessincredulous，andifIaccusehimpublicly————\"
\"ThenIshallcontradictyoupublicly！\"Andcomingquicklyforward，hereyesshiningwithvirtuousanger——
\"Leavethishouse，go，\"shesaid;\"itisyouyourselfwhoaretheimpostor——go！\"
\"Ishallyetknowhowtoconvinceeveryone，andwillmakeyouacknowledgeit，\"criedthefuriousoldman。
Hewentout，andBertrandesankexhaustedintoachair。AllthestrengthwhichhadsupportedheragainstPierrevanishedassoonasshewasalone，andinspiteofherresistancetosuspicion，theterriblelightofdoubtpenetratedherheart，andextinguishedthepuretorchoftrustfulnesswhichhadguidedherhitherto——adoubt，alas！whichattackedatonceherhonourandherlove，forshelovedwithallawoman\'stenderaffection。Justasactualpoisongraduallypenetratesandcirculatesthroughthewholesystem，corruptingthebloodandaffectingtheverysourcesoflifeuntilitcausesthedestructionofthewholebody，sodoesthatmentalpoison，suspicion，extenditsravagesinthesoulwhichhasreceivedit。BertranderememberedwithterrorherfirstfeelingsatthesightofthereturnedMartinGuerre，herinvoluntaryrepugnance，herastonishmentatnotfeelingmoreintouchwiththehusbandwhomshehadsosincerelyregretted。Sherememberedalso，asifshesawitforthefirsttime，thatMartin，formerlyquick，lively，andhastytempered，nowseemedthoughtful，andfullymasterofhimself。
Thischangeofcharactershehadsupposedduetothenaturaldevelopmentofage，shenowtrembledattheideaofanotherpossiblecause。Someotherlittledetailsbegantooccurtohermind——theforgetfulnessorabstractionofherhusbandastoafewinsignificantthings;thusitsometimeshappenedthathedidnotanswertohisnameofMartin，alsothathemistooktheroadtoahermitage，formerlywellknowntothemboth，andagainthathecouldnotanswerwhenaddressedinBasque，althoughhehimselfhadtaughtherthelittlesheknewofthislanguage。Besides，sincehisreturn，hewouldneverwriteinherpresence，didhefearthatshewouldnoticesomedifference？Shehadpaidlittleornoattentiontothesetrifles;
now，piecedtogether，theyassumedanalarmingimportance。AnappallingterrorseizedBertrande:wasshetoremaininthisuncertainty，orshouldsheseekanexplanationwhichmightproveherdestruction？Andhowdiscoverthetruth——byquestioningtheguiltyman，bynotinghisconfusion，hischangeofcolour，byforcingaconfessionfromhim？Butshehadlivedwithhimfortwoyears，hewasthefatherofherchild，shecouldnotruinhimwithoutruiningherself，and，anexplanationoncesought，shecouldneitherpunishhimandescapedisgrace，norpardonhimwithoutsharinghisguilt。
Toreproachhimwithhisconductandthenkeepsilencewoulddestroyherpeaceforever;tocauseascandalbydenouncinghimwouldbringdishonouruponherselfandherchild。Nightfoundherinvolvedinthesehideousperplexities，tooweaktosurmountthem;anicychillcameoverher，shewenttobed，andawokeinahighfever。Forseveraldaysshehoveredbetweenlifeanddeath，andMartinGuerrebestowedthemosttendercareuponher。Shewasgreatlymovedthereby，havingoneofthoseimpressionablemindswhichrecognisekindnessfullyasmuchasinjury。Whenshewasalittlerecoveredandhermentalpowerbegantoreturn，shehadonlyavaguerecollectionofwhathadoccurred，andthoughtshehadhadafrightfuldream。SheaskedifPierreGuerrehadbeentoseeher，andfoundhehadnotbeennearthehouse。Thiscouldonlybeexplainedbythescenewhichhadtakenplace，andshethenrecollectedalltheaccusationPierrehadmade，herownobservationswhichhadconfirmedit，allhergriefandtrouble。Sheinquiredaboutthevillagenews。
Pierre，evidently，hadkeptsilencewhy？Hadheseenthathissuspicionswereunjust，orwasheonlyseekingfurtherevidence？Shesankbackintohercrueluncertainty，andresolvedtowatchMartinclosely，beforedecidingastohisguiltorinnocence。
HowwasshetosupposethatGodhadcreatedtwofacessoexactlyalike，twobeingspreciselysimilar，andthensentthemtogetherintotheworld，andonthesametrack，merelytocompasstheruinofanunhappywoman！Aterribleideatookpossessionofhermind，anideanotuncommoninanageofsuperstition，namely，thattheEnemyhimselfcouldassumehumanform，andcouldborrowthesemblanceofadeadmaninordertocaptureanothersoulforhisinfernalkingdom。
Actingonthisidea，shehastenedtothechurch，paidformassestobesaid，andprayedfervently。Sheexpectedeverydaytoseethedemonforsakethebodyhehadanimated，buthervows，offerings，andprayershadnoresult。ButHeavensentheranideawhichshewonderedhadnotoccurredtohersooner。\"IftheTempter，\"shesaidtoherself，\"hastakentheformofmybelovedhusband，hispowerbeingsupremeforevil，theresemblancewouldbeexact，andnodifference，howeverslight，wouldexist。If，however，itisonlyanothermanwhoresembleshim，Godmusthavemadethemwithsomeslightdistinguishingmarks。\"
Shethenremembered，whatshehadnotthoughtofbefore，havingbeenquiteunsuspiciousbeforeheruncle\'saccusation，andnearlyoutofhermindbetweenmentalandbodilysufferingsince。Sherememberedthatonherhusband\'sleftshoulder，almostontheneck，thereusedtobeoneofthosesmall，almostimperceptible，butineffaceablebirthmarks。Martinworehishairverylong，itwasdifficulttoseeifthemarkwerethereornot。Onenight，whileheslept，Bertrandecutawayalockofhairfromtheplacewherethissignoughttobe——
itwasnotthere！
Convincedatlengthofthedeception，Bertrandesufferedinexpressibleanguish。Thismanwhomshehadlovedandrespectedfortwowholeyears，whomshehadtakentoherheartasahusbandbitterlymournedfor——thismanwasacheat，aninfamousimpostor，andshe，allunknowing，wasyetaguiltywoman！Herchildwasillegitimate，andthecurseofHeavenwasduetothissacrilegiousunion。Tocompletethemisfortune，shewasalreadyexpectinganotherinfant。Shewouldhavekilledherself，butherreligionandtheloveofherchildrenforbadeit。Kneelingbeforeherchild\'scradle，sheentreatedpardonfromthefatheroftheoneforthefatheroftheother。Shewouldnotbringherselftoproclaimaloudtheirinfamy。
\"Oh！\"shesaid，\"thouwhomIloved，thouwhoartnomore，thouknowestnoguiltythoughteverenteredmymind！WhenIsawthisman，IthoughtIbeheldthee;whenIwashappy，IthoughtIowedittothee;itwastheewhomIlovedinhim。SurelythoudostnotdesirethatbyapublicavowalIshouldbringshameanddisgraceonthesechildrenandonmyself。\"