Sherosecalmandstrengthened:itseemedasifaheavenlyinspirationhadmarkedoutherduty。Tosufferinsilence，suchwasthecoursesheadopted，——alifeofsacrificeandself—denialwhichsheofferedtoGodasanexpiationforherinvoluntarysin。Butwhocanunderstandtheworkingsofthehumanheart？Thismanwhomsheoughttohaveloathed，thismanwhohadmadeheraninnocentpartnerinhiscrime，thisunmaskedimpostorwhomsheshouldhavebeheldonlywithdisgust，she—lovedhim！Theforceofhabit，theascendancyhehadobtainedoverher，thelovehehadshownher，athousandsympathiesfeltinherinmostheart，allthesehadsomuchinfluence，that，insteadofaccusingandcursinghim，shesoughttoexcusehimonthepleaofapassiontowhich，doubtless，hehadyieldedwhenusurpingthenameandplaceofanother。Shefearedpunishmentforhimyetmorethandisgraceforherself，andthoughresolvedtonolongerallowhimtherightspurchasedbycrime，sheyettrembledattheideaoflosinghislove。Itwasthisaboveallwhichdecidedhertokeepeternalsilenceaboutherdiscovery;onesinglewordwhichprovedthathisimposturewasknownwouldraiseaninsurmountablebarrierbetweenthem。
Toconcealhertroubleentirelywas，however，beyondherpower;hereyesfrequentlyshowedtracesofhersecrettears。Martinseveraltimesaskedthecauseofhersorrow;shetriedtosmileandexcuseherself，onlyimmediatelysinkingbackintohergloomythoughts。
Martinthoughtitmerecaprice;heobservedherlossofcolour，herhollowcheeks，andconcludedthatagewasimpairingherbeauty，andbecamelessattentivetoher。Hisabsencesbecamelongerandmorefrequent，andhedidnotconcealhisimpatienceandannoyanceatbeingwatched;forherlookshunguponhis，andsheobservedhiscoldnessandchangewithmuchgrief。Havingsacrificedallinordertoretainhislove，shenowsawitslowlyslippingawayfromher。
Anotherpersonalsoobservedattentively。PierreGuerresincehisexplanationwithBertrandehadapparentlydiscoverednomoreevidence，anddidnotdaretobringanaccusationwithoutsomepositiveproofs。Consequentlyhelostnochanceofwatchingtheproceedingsofhissupposednephew，silentlyhopingthatchancemightputhimonthetrackofadiscovery。HealsoconcludedfromBertrande\'sstateofmelancholythatshehadconvincedherselfofthefraud，buthadresolvedtoconcealit。
Martinwasthenendeavoringtosellapartofhisproperty，andthisnecessitatedfrequentinterviewswiththelawyersoftheneighbouringtown。TwiceintheweekhewenttoRieux，andtomakethejourneyeasier，usedtostarthorsebackaboutsevenintheevening，sleepatRieux，andreturnthefollowingafternoon。Thisarrangementdidnotescapehisenemy\'snotice，whowasnotlonginconvincinghimselfthatpartofthetimeostensiblyspentonthisjourneywasotherwiseemployed。
Towardsteno\'clockontheeveningofadarknight，thedoorofasmallhouselyingabouthalfagunshotfromthevillageopenedgentlyfortheexitofamanwrappedinalargecloak，followedbyayoungwoman，whoaccompaniedhimsomedistance。Arrivedatthepartingpoint，theyseparatedwithatenderkissandafewmurmuredwordsofadieu;thelovertookhishorse，whichwasfastenedtoatree，mounted，androdeofftowardsRieux。Whenthesoundsdiedaway，thewomanturnedslowlyandsadlytowardsherhome，butassheapproachedthedooramansuddenlyturnedthecornerofthehouseandbarredheraway。Terrified，shewasonthepointofcryingforhelp，whenheseizedherarmandorderedhertobesilent。
\"Rose，\"hewhispered，\"Iknoweverything:thatmanisyourlover。Inordertoreceivehimsafely，yousendyouroldhusbandtosleepbymeansofadrugstolenfromyourfather\'sshop。Thisintriguehasbeengoingonforamonth;twiceaweek，atseveno\'clock，yourdoorisopenedtothisman，whodoesnotproceedonhiswaytothetownuntilten。Iknowyourlover:heismynephew。\"
Petrifiedwithterror，Rosefellonherkneesandimploredmercy。
\"Yes，\"repliedPierre，\"youmaywellbefrightened:Ihaveyoursecret。Ihaveonlytopublishitandyouareruinedforever:\"
Youwillnotdoit！\"entreatedtheguiltywoman，claspingherhands。
\"Ihaveonlytotellyourhusband，\"continuedPierre，\"thathiswifehasdishonouredhim，andtoexplainthereasonofhisunnaturallyheavysleep。\"
\"Hewillkillme！\"
\"Nodoubt:heisjealous，heisanItalian，hewillknowhowtoavengehimself——evenasIdo。\"
\"ButIneverdidyouanyharm，\"Rosecriedindespair。\"Oh！havepity，havemercy，andspareme！\"
\"Ononecondition。\"
\"Whatisit？\"
\"Comewithme。\"
Terrifiedalmostoutofhermind，Roseallowedhimtoleadheraway。
Bertrandehadjustfinishedhereveningprayer，andwaspreparingforbed，whenshewasstartledbyseveralknocksatherdoor。Thinkingthatperhapssomeneighbourwasinneedofhelp，sheopeneditimmediately，andtoherastonishmentbeheldadishevelledwomanwhomPierregraspedbythearm。Heexclaimedvehemently——
\"Hereisthyjudge！Now，confessalltoBertrande！\"
Bertrandedidnotatoncerecognisethewoman，whofellatherfeet，overcomebyPierre\'sthreats。
\"Tellthetruthhere，\"hecontinued，\"orIgoandtellittoyourhusband，atyourownhome！\"\"Ah！madame，killme，\"saidtheunhappycreature，hidingherface;\"letmeratherdiebyyourhandthanhis！\"
Bertrande，bewildered，didnotunderstandthepositionintheleast，butsherecognisedRose——
\"Butwhatisthematter，madame？Whyareyouhereatthishour，paleandweeping？Whyhasmyuncledraggedyouhither？Iamtojudgeyou，doeshesay？Ofwhatcrimeareyouguilty？\"
\"Martinmightanswerthat，ifhewerehere，\"remarkedPierre。
AlightningflashofjealousyshotthroughBertrande\'ssoulatthesewords，allherformersuspicionsrevived。
\"What！\"shesaid，\"myhusband！Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Thatheleftthiswoman\'shouseonlyalittlewhileago，thatforamonththeyhavebeenmeetingsecretly。Youarebetrayed:Ihaveseenthemandshedoesnotdaretodenyit。\"
\"Havemercy！\"criedRose，stillkneeling。
Thecrywasaconfession。Bertrandebecamepateasdeath。\"OGod！\"
shemurmured，\"deceived，betrayed——andbyhim！\"
\"Foramonthpast，\"repeatedtheoldman。
\"Oh！thewretch，\"shecontinued，withincreasingpassion;\"thenhiswholelifeisalie！Hehasabusedmycredulity，henowabusesmylove！Hedoesnotknowme！Hethinkshecantrampleonme——me，inwhosepowerarehisfortune，hishonour，hisverylifeitself！\"
Then，turningtoRose——
\"Andyou，miserablewoman！bywhatunworthyartificedidyougainhislove？Wasitbywitchcraft？orsomepoisonousphiltrelearnedfromyourworthyfather？\"
\"Alas！no，madame;myweaknessismyonlycrime，andalsomyonlyexcuse。Ilovedhim，longago，whenIwasonlyayounggirl，andthesememorieshavebeenmyruin。\"
\"Memories？What！didyoualsothinkyouwerelovingthesameman？
Areyoualsohisdupe？Orareyouonlypretending，inordertofindaragofexcusetocoveryourwickedness？\"
ItwasnowRosewhofailedtounderstand;Bertrandecontinued，withgrowingexcitement——
\"Yes，itwasnotenoughtousurptherightsofahusbandandfather，hethoughttoplayhispartstillbetterbydeceivingthemistressalso……Ah！itisamusing，isitnot？Youalso，Rose，youthoughthewasyouroldlover！Well，Iatleastamexcusable，Ithewife，whoonlythoughtshewasfaithfultoherhusband！\"
\"Whatdoesitallmean？\"askedtheterrifiedRose。
\"ItmeansthatthismanisanimpostorandthatIwillunmaskhim。
Revenge！revenge！\"
Pierrecameforward。\"Bertrande，\"hesaid，\"solongasIthoughtyouwerehappy，whenIfearedtodisturbyourpeace，Iwassilent，I
repressedmyjustindignation，andIsparedtheusurperofthenameandrightsofmynephew。Doyounowgivemeleavetospeak？\"
\"Yes，\"sherepliedinahollowvoice。
\"Youwillnotcontradictme？\"
Bywayofanswershesatdownbythetableandwroteafewhastylineswithatremblinghand，thengavethemtoPierre，whoseeyessparkledwithjoy。
\"Yes，\"hesaid，\"vengeanceforhim，butforherpity。Letthishumiliationbeheronlypunishment。Ipromisedsilenceinreturnforconfession，willyougrantit？\"
Bertrandeassentedwithacontemptuousgesture。
\"Go，fearnot，\"saidtheoldman，andRosewentout。Pierrealsoleftthehouse。
Lefttoherself，Bertrandefeltutterlywornoutbysomuchemotion;
indignationgavewaytodepression。Shebegantorealisewhatshehaddone，andthescandalwhichwouldfallonherownhead。Justthenherbabyawoke，andheldoutitsarms，smiling，andcallingforitsfather。Itsfather，washenotacriminal？Yes！butwasitforhertoruinhim，toinvokethelaw，tosendhimtodeath，afterhavingtakenhimtoherheart，todeliverhimtoinfamywhichwouldrecoilonherownheadandherchild\'sandontheinfantwhichwasyetunborn？IfhehadsinnedbeforeGod，wasitnotforGodtopunishhim？Ifagainstherself，oughtshenotrathertooverwhelmhimwithcontempt？Buttoinvokethehelp，ofstrangerstoexpiatethisoffence;tolaybarethetroublesofherlife，tounveilthesanctuaryofthenuptialcouch——inshort，tosummonthewholeworldtobeholdthisfatalscandal，wasnotthatwhatinherimprudentangershehadreallydone？Sherepentedbitterlyofherhaste，shesoughttoaverttheconsequences，andnotwithstandingthenightandthebadweather，shehurriedatoncetoPierre\'sdwelling，hopingatallcoststowithdrawherdenunciation。Hewasnotthere:hehadatoncetakenahorseandstartedforRieux。Heraccusationwasalreadyonitswaytothemagistrates！
AtbreakofdaythehousewhereMartinGuerrelodgedwhenatRieuxwassurroundedbysoldiers。Hecameforwardwithconfidenceandinquiredwhatwaswanted。Onhearingtheaccusation，hechangedcolourslightly，thencollectedhimself，andmadenoresistance。
Whenhecamebeforethejudge，Bertrande\'spetitionwasreadtohim，declaringhimtobe\"animpostor，whofalsely，audaciously，andtreacherouslyhaddeceivedherbytakingthenameandassumingthepersonofMartinGuerre，\"anddemandingthatheshouldberequiredtoentreatpardonfromGod，theking，andherself。
Theprisonerlistenedcalmlytothecharge，andmetitcourageously，onlyevincingprofoundsurpriseatsuchastepbeingtakenbyawifewhohadlivedwithhimfortwoyearssincehisreturn，andwhoonlynowthoughtofdisputingtherightshehadsolongenjoyed。AshewasignorantbothofBertrande\'ssuspicionsandtheirconfirmation，andalsoofthejealousywhichhadinspiredheraccusation，hisastonishmentwasperfectlynatural，anddidnotatallappeartobeassumed。Heattributedthewholechargetothemachinationsofhisuncle，PierreGuerre;anoldman，hesaid，who，beinggovernedentirelybyavariceandthedesireofrevenge，nowdisputedhisnamearidrights，inorderthebettertodeprivehimofhisproperty，whichmightbeworthfromsixteentoeighteenhundredlivres。Inordertoattainhisend，thiswickedmanhadnothesitatedtoperverthiswife\'smind，andattheriskofherowndishonourhadinstigatedthiscalumniouscharge——ahorribleandunheard—ofthinginthemouthofalawfulwife。\"Ah！Idonotblameher，\"hecried;\"shemustsuffermorethanIdo，ifshereallyentertainsdoubtssuchasthese;
butIdeploreherreadinesstolistentotheseextraordinarycalumniesoriginatedbymyenemy。\"
Thejudgewasagooddealimpressedbysomuchassurance。Theaccusedwasrelegatedtoprison，whencehewasbroughttwodayslatertoencounteraformalexamination。
Hebeganbyexplainingthecauseofhislongabsence，originating，hesaid，inadomesticquarrel，ashiswifewellremembered。Hethererelatedhislifeduringtheseeightyears。Atfirsthewanderedoverthecountry，whereverhiscuriosityandtheloveoftravelledhim。
Hethenhadcrossedthefrontier，revisitedBiscay，wherehewasborn，andhavingenteredtheserviceoftheCardinalofBurgos，hepassedthenceintothearmyoftheKingofSpain。HewaswoundedatthebattleofSt。Quentin，conveyedtoaneighbouringvillage，whereherecovered，althoughthreatenedwithamputation。Anxioustoagainbeholdhiswifeandchild，hisotherrelationsandthelandofhisadoption，hereturnedtoArtigues，wherehewasimmediatelyrecognisedbyeveryone，includingtheidenticalPierreGuerre，hisuncle，whonowhadthecrueltytodisavowhim。Infact，thelatterhadshownhimspecialaffectionuptothedaywhenMartinrequiredanaccountofhisstewardship。Hadheonlyhadthecowardicetosacrificehismoneyandtherebydefraudhischildren，hewouldnotto—daybechargedasanimpostor。\"But，\"continuedMartin，\"I
resisted，andaviolentquarrelensued，inwhichangerperhapscarriedmetoofar;PierreGuerre，cunningandrevengeful，haswaitedinsilence。Hehastakenhistimeandhismeasurestoorganisethisplot，hopingtherebytoobtainhisends，tobringjusticetothehelpofhisavarice，andtoacquirethespoilshecoveted，andrevengeforhisdefeat，bymeansofasentenceobtainedfromthescruplesofthejudges。\"Besidestheseexplanations，whichdidnotappearwantinginprobability，Martinvehementlyprotestedhisinnocence，demandingthathiswifeshouldbeconfrontedwithhim，anddeclaringthatinhispresenceshewouldnotsustainthechargeofpersonationbroughtagainsthim，andthathermindnotbeinganimatedbytheblindhatredwhichdominatedhispersecutor，thetruthwouldundoubtedlyprevail。
Henow，inhisturn，demandedthatthejudgeshouldacknowledgehisinnocence，andproveitbycondemninghiscalumniatorstothepunishmentinvokedagainsthimself;thathiswife，BertrandedeRolls，shouldbesecludedinsomehousewherehermindcouldnolongerbeperverted，and，finally，thathisinnocenceshouldbedeclared，andexpensesandcompensationsawardedhim。
Afterthisspeech，deliveredwithwarmth，andwitheverytokenofsincerity，heansweredwithoutdifficultyalltheinterrogationsofthejudge。Thefollowingaresomeofthequestionsandanswers，justastheyhavecomedowntous:——
\"InwhatpartofBiscaywereyouborn？\"
\"InthevillageofAymes，provinceofGuipuscoa。\"
\"Whatwerethenamesofyourparents？\"
\"AntonioGuerreandMarieToreada。\"
\"Aretheystillliving？\"
\"MyfatherdiedJune15th，1530;mymothersurvivedhimthreeyearsandtwelvedays。\"
\"Haveyouanybrothersandsisters？\"
\"Ihadonebrother，whoonlylivedthreemonths。Myfoursisters，Inez，Dorothea，Marietta，andPedrina，allcametoliveatArtigueswhenIdid;theyaretherestill，andtheyallrecognisedme。\"
\"Whatisthedateofyourmarriage？\"
\"January10，1539。\"
\"Whowerepresentattheceremony？\"
\"Myfather—in—law，mymother—in—law，myuncle，mytwosisters，MaitreMarcelandhisdaughterRose;aneighbourcalledClaudePerrin，whogotdrunkattheweddingfeast;alsoGiraud，thepoet，whocomposedversesinourhonour。\"
\"Whowasthepriestwhomarriedyou？\"
\"Theoldcure，PascalGuerin，whomIdidnotfindalivewhenI
returned。\"
\"Whatspecialcircumstancesoccurredonthewedding—day？\"
\"Atmidnightexactly，ourneighbour，CatherineBoere，broughtustherepastwhichisknownas\'medianoche。\'Thiswomanhasrecognisedme，asalsoouroldMarguerite，whohasremainedwithuseversincethewedding。\"
\"Whatisthedateofyourson\'sbirth？\"
\"February10，1548，nineyearsafterourmarriage。Iwasonlytwelvewhentheceremonytookplace，anddidnotarriveatmanhoodtillseveralyearslater。\"
\"GivethedateofyourleavingArtigues。\"
\"ItwasinAugust1549。AsIleftthevillage，ImetClaudePerrinandthecurePascal，andtookleaveofthem。IwenttowardsBeauvais，endIpassedthroughOrleans，Bourges，Limoges，Bordeaux，andToulouse。IfyouwantthenamesofpeoplewhomIsawandtowhomIspoke，youcanhavethem。WhatmorecanIsay？\"
Never，indeed，wasthereamoreapparentlyveraciousstatement！AllthedoingsofMartinGuerreseemedtobemostfaithfullydescribed，andsurelyonlyhimselfcouldthusnarratehisownactions。Asthehistorianremarks，alludingtothestoryofAmphitryon，MercuryhimselfcouldnotbetterreproduceallSosia\'sactions，gestures，andwords，thandidthefalseMartinGuerrethoseoftherealone。