第5章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Martin Guerre",免费读到尾

  Inaccordancewiththedemandoftheaccused,BertrandedeRollswasdetainedinseclusion,inordertoremoveherfromtheinfluenceofPierreGuerre。Thelatter,however,didnotwastetime,andduringthemonthspentinexaminingthewitnessescitedbyMartin,hisdiligentenemy,guidedbysomevaguetraces,departedonajourney,fromwhichhedidnotreturnalone。

  Allthewitnessesboreoutthestatementoftheaccused;thelatterheardthisinprison,andrejoiced,hopingforaspeedyrelease。

  Beforelonghewasagainbroughtbeforethejudge,whotoldhimthathisdepositionhadbeenconfirmedbyallthewitnessesexamined。

  \"Doyouknowofnoothers?\"continuedthemagistrate。\"Haveyounorelativesexceptthoseyouhavementioned?\"

  \"Ihavenoothers,\"answeredtheprisoner。

  \"Thenwhatdoyousaytothisman?\"saidthejudge,openingadoor。

  Anoldmanissuedforth,whofellontheprisoner\'sneck,exclaiming,\"Mynephew!\"

  Martintrembledineverylimb,butonlyforamoment。Promptlyrecoveringhimself,andgazingcalmlyatthenewcomer,heaskedcoolly——

  \"Andwhomayyoube?\"

  \"What!\"saidtheoldman,\"doyounotknowme?Dareyoudenyme?——

  me,yourmother\'sbrother,CarbonBarreau,theoldsoldier!Me,whodandledyouonmykneeinyourinfancy;me,whotaughtyoulatertocarryamusket;me,whometyouduringthewarataninninPicardy,whenyoufledsecretly。SincethenIhavesoughtyoueverywhere;I

  havespokenofyou,anddescribedyourfaceandperson,untilaworthyinhabitantofthiscountryofferedtobringmehither,whereindeedIdidnotexpecttofindmysister\'ssonimprisonedandfetteredasamalefactor。Whatishiscrime,mayitpleaseyourhonour?\"

  \"Youshallhear,\"repliedthemagistrate。\"Thenyouidentifytheprisonerasyournephew?Youaffirmhisnametobe———?\"

  \"ArnauldduThill,alsocalled\'Pansette,\'afterhisfather,JacquesPansa。HismotherwasThereseBarreau,mysister,andhewasborninthevillageofSagias。\"

  \"Whathaveyoutosay?\"demandedthejudge,turningtotheaccused。

  \"Threethings,\"repliedthelatter,unabashed,\"thismaniseithermad,orhehasbeensubornedtotelllies,orheissimplymistaken。\"

  Theoldmanwasstruckdumbwithastonishment。Buthissupposednephew\'sstartofterrorhadnotbeenlostuponthejudge,alsomuchimpressedbythestraightforwardfranknessofCarbonBarreau。Hecausedfreshinvestigationstobemade,andotherinhabitantsofSagiasweresummonedtoRieux,whooneandallagreedinidentifyingtheaccusedasthesameArnauldduThillwhohadbeenbornandhadgrownupundertheirveryeyes。Severaldeposedthatashegrewuphehadtakentoevilcourses,andbecomeanadeptintheftandlying,notfearingeventotakethesacrednameofGodinvain,inordertocovertheuntruthofhisdaringassertions。FromsuchtestimonythejudgenaturallyconcludedthatArnauldduThillwasquitecapableofcarryingon,animposture,andthattheimpudencewhichhedisplayedwasnaturaltohischaracter。Moreover,henotedthattheprisoner,whoaverredthathewasborninBiscay,knewonlyafewwordsoftheBasquelanguage,andusedthesequitewrongly。HeheardlateranotherwitnesswhodeposedthattheoriginalMartinGuerrewasagoodwrestlerandskilledintheartoffence,whereastheprisoner,havingwishedtotrywhathecoulddo,showednoskillwhatever。

  Finally,ashoemakerwasinterrogated,andhisevidencewasnottheleastdamning。MartinGuerre,hedeclared,requiredtwelveholestolacehisboots,andhissurprisehadbeengreatwhenhefoundthoseoftheprisonerhadonlynine。Consideringallthesepoints,andthecumulativeevidence,thejudgeofRieuxsetasidethefavourabletestimony,whichheconcludedhadbeentheoutcomeofgeneralcredulity,imposedonbyanextraordinaryresemblance。HegavedueweightalsotoBertrande\'saccusation,althoughshehadneverconfirmedit,andnowmaintainedanobstinatesilence;andhepronouncedajudgmentbywhichArnauldduThillwasdeclared\"attaintedandconvictedofimposture,andwasthereforecondemnedtobebeheaded;afterwhichhisbodyshouldbedividedintofourquarters,andexposedatthefourcornersofthetown。\"

  Thissentence,assoonasitwasknown,causedmuchdiversityofopinioninthetown。Theprisoner\'senemiespraisedthewisdomofthejudge,andthoselessprejudicedcondemnedhisdecision;assuchconflictingtestimonyleftroomfordoubt。Besides,itwasthoughtthatthepossessionofpropertyandthefutureofthechildrenrequiredmuchconsideration,alsothatthemostabsolutecertaintywasdemandedbeforeannullingapastoftwowholeyears,untroubledbyanycounterclaimwhatever。

  ThecondemnedmanappealedfromthissentencetotheParliamentofToulouse。Thiscourtdecidedthatthecaserequiredmorecarefulconsiderationthanhadyetbeengiventoit,andbeganbyorderingArnauldduThilltobeconfrontedwithPierreGuerreandBertrandedeRolls。

  Whocansaywhatfeelingsanimateamanwho,alreadyoncecondemned,findshimselfsubjectedtoasecondtrial?Thetorturescarcelyendedbeginsagain,andHope,thoughreducedtoashadow,regainsherswayoverhisimagination,whichclingstoherskirts,asitwere,withdesperation。Theexhaustingeffortsmustberecommenced;itisthelaststruggle——astrugglewhichismoredesperateinproportionasthereislessstrengthtomaintainit。Inthiscasethedefendantwasnotoneofthosewhoareeasilycastdown;hecollectedallhisenergy,allhiscourage,hopingtocomevictoriouslyoutofthenewcombatwhichlaybeforehim。

  ThemagistratesassembledinthegreathalloftheParliament,andtheprisonerappearedbeforethem。HehadfirsttodealwithPierre,andconfrontedhimcalmly,lettinghimspeak,withoutshowinganyemotion。Hethenrepliedwithindignantreproaches,dwellingonPierre\'sgreedandavarice,hisvowsofvengeance,themeansemployedtoworkuponBertrande,hissecretmanoeuvresinordertogainhisends,andtheunheard—ofanimositydisplayedinhuntingupaccusers,witnesses,andcalumniators。HedefiedPierretoprovethathewasnotMartinGuerre,hisnephew,inasmuchasPierrehadpubliclyacknowledgedandembracedhim,andhistardysuspicionsonlydatedfromthetimeoftheirviolentquarrel。Hislanguagewassostrongandvehement,thatPierrebecameconfusedandwasunabletoanswer,andtheencounterturnedentirelyinArnauld\'sfavour,whoseemedtooverawehisadversaryfromaheightofinjuredinnocence,whilethelatterappearedasadisconcertedslanderer。

  ThesceneofhisconfrontationwithBertrandetookawhollydifferentcharacter。Thepoorwoman,pale,castdown,wornbysorrow,camestaggeringbeforethetribunal,inanalmostfaintingcondition。Sheendeavouredtocollectherself,butassoonasshesawtheprisonershehungherheadandcoveredherfacewithherhands。Heapproachedherandbesoughtherinthegentlestaccentsnottopersistinanaccusationwhichmightsendhimtothescaffold,notthustoavengeanysinshemighthavecommittedagainsther,althoughhecouldnotreproachhimselfwithanyreallyseriousfault。

  Bertrandestarted,andmurmuredinawhisper,\"AndRose?\"

  \"Ah!\"Arnauldexclaimed,astonishedatthisrevelation。

  Hispartwasinstantlytaken。Turningtothejudges——

  \"Gentlemen,\"hesaid,\"mywifeisajealouswoman!Tenyearsago,whenIlefther,shehadformedthesesuspicions;theywerethecauseofmyvoluntaryexile。To—daysheagainaccusesmeof,guiltyrelationswiththesameperson;Ineitherdenynoracknowledgethem,butIaffirmthatitistheblindpassionofjealousywhich,aidedbymyuncle\'ssuggestions,guidedmywife\'shandwhenshesignedthisdenunciation。\"

  Bertranderemainedsilent。

  \"Doyoudare,\"hecontinued,turningtowardsher,——\"doyoudaretoswearbeforeGodthatjealousydidnotinspireyouwiththewishtoruinme?\"

  \"Andyou,\"shereplied,\"dareyouswearthatIwasdeceivedinmysuspicions?\"

  \"Yousee,gentlemen,\"exclaimedtheprisonertriumphantly,\"herjealousybreaksforthbeforeyoureyes。WhetherIam,oramnot,guiltyofthesinsheattributestome,isnotthequestionforyoutodecide。Canyouconscientiouslyadmitthetestimonyofawomanwho,afterpubliclyacknowledgingme,afterreceivingmeinherhouse,afterlivingtwoyearsinperfectamitywithme,has,inafitofangryvengeance,thoughtshecouldgivethelietoallherwardsandactions?Ah!Bertrande,\"hecontinued,\"ifitonlyconcernedmylifeIthinkIcouldforgiveamadnessofwhichyourloveisboththecauseandtheexcuse,butyouareamother,thinkofthat!Mypunishmentwillrecoilontheheadofmydaughter,whoisunhappyenoughtohavebeenbornsinceourreunion,andalsoonourunbornchild,whichyoucondemnbeforehandtocursetheunionwhichgaveitbeing。Thinkofthis,Bertrande,youwillhavetoanswerbeforeGodforwhatyouarenowdoing!\"

  Theunhappywomanfellonherknees,weeping。

  \"Iadjureyou,\"hecontinuedsolemnly,\"you,mywife,BertrandedeRolls,toswearnow,here,onthecrucifix,thatIamanimpostorandacheat。\"

  AcrucifixwasplacedbeforeBertrande;shemadeasignasiftopushitaway,endeavouredtospeak,andfeeblyexclaimed,\"No,\"thenfelltotheground,andwascarriedoutinsensible。

  Thissceneconsiderablyshooktheopinionofthemagistrates。Theycouldnotbelievethatanimpostor,whateverhemightbe,wouldhavesufficientdaringandpresenceofmindthustoturnintomockeryallthatwasmostsacred。Theysetanewinquiryonfoot,which,insteadofproducingenlightenment,onlyplungedthemintostillgreaterobscurity。Outofthirtywitnessesheard,morethanthree—quartersagreedinidentifyingasMartinGuerrethemanwhoclaimedhisname。

  Neverwasgreaterperplexitycausedbymoreextraordinaryappearances。Theremarkableresemblanceupsetallreasoning:somerecognisedhimasArnauldduThill,andothersassertedtheexactcontrary。HecouldhardlyunderstandBasque,somesaid,thoughborninBiscay,wasthatastonishing,seeinghewasonlythreewhenheleftthecountry?Hecouldneitherwrestlenorfencewell,buthavingnooccasiontopractisetheseexerciseshemightwellhaveforgottenthem。Theshoemaker——whomadehisshoesafore—time,thoughthetookanothermeasure,buthemighthavemadeamistakebeforeorbemistakennow。TheprisonerfurtherdefendedhimselfbyrecapitulatingthecircumstancesofhisfirstmeetingwithBertrande,onhisreturn,thethousandandonelittledetailshehadmentionedwhichheonlycouldhaveknown,alsothelettersinhispossession,allofwhichcouldonlybeexplainedbytheassumptionthathewastheveritableMartinGuerre。Wasitlikelythathewouldbewoundedoverthelefteyeandlegasthemissingmanwassupposedtobe?Wasitlikelythattheoldservant,thatthefoursisters,hisunclePierre,manypersonstowhomhehadrelatedfactsknownonlytohimself,thatallthecommunityinshort,wouldhaverecognisedhim?

  AndeventheveryintriguesuspectedbyBertrande,whichhadarousedherjealousanger,thisveryintrigue,ifitreallyexisted,wasitnotanotherproofoftheverityofhisclaim,sincethepersonconcerned,asinterestedandaspenetratingasthelegitimatewife;

  hadalsoacceptedhimasherformerlover?Surelyherewasamassofevidencesufficienttocastlightonthecase。Imagineanimpostorarrivingforthefirsttimeinaplacewherealltheinhabitantsareunknowntohim,andattemptingtopersonateamanwhohaddweltthere,whowouldhaveconnectionsofallkinds,whowouldhaveplayedhispartinathousanddifferentscenes,whowouldhaveconfidedhissecrets,hisopinions,torelations,friends,acquaintances,toallsortsofpeople;whohadalsoawife——thatistosay,apersonunderwhoseeyesnearlyhiswholelifewouldbepassed,apersonwouldstudyhimperpetually,withwhomhewouldbecontinuallyconversingoneverysortofsubject。Couldsuchanimpostorsustainhisimpersonationforasingleday,withouthismemoryplayinghimfalse?

  >Fromthephysicalandmoralimpossibilityofplayingsuchapart,wasitnotreasonabletoconcludethattheaccused,whohadmaintaineditformorethantwoyears,wasthetrueMartinGuerre?

  Thereseemed,infact,tobenothingwhichcouldaccountforsuchanattemptbeingsuccessfullymadeunlessrecoursewashadtoanaccusationofsorcery。Theideaofhandinghimovertotheecclesiasticalauthoritieswasbrieflydiscussed,butproofswerenecessary,andthejudgeshesitated。Itisaprincipleofjustice,whichhasbecomeapreceptinlaw,thatincasesofuncertaintytheaccusedhasthebenefitofthedoubt;butattheperiodofwhichwearewriting,thesetruthswerefarfrombeingacknowledged;guiltwaspresumedratherthaninnocence;andtorture,institutedtoforceconfessionfromthosewhocouldnototherwisebeconvicted,isonlyexplicablebysupposingthejudgesconvincedoftheactualguiltoftheaccused;fornoonewouldhavethoughtofsubjectingapossiblyinnocentpersontothissuffering。However,notwithstandingthisprejudice,whichhasbeenhandeddowntousbysomeorgansofthepublicministryalwaysdisposedtoassumetheguiltofasuspectedperson,——notwithstandingthisprejudice,thejudgesinthiscaseneitherventuredtocondemnMartinGuerrethemselvesasanimpostor,nortodemandtheinterventionoftheChurch。Inthisconflictofcontrarytestimony,whichseemedtorevealthetruthonlytoimmediatelyobscureitagain,inthischaosofargumentsandconjectureswhichshowedflashesoflightonlytoextinguishthemingreaterdarkness,considerationforthefamilyprevailed。ThesincerityofBertrande,thefutureofthechildren,seemedreasonsforproceedingwithextremecaution,andthisonceadmitted,couldonlyyieldtoconclusiveevidence。ConsequentlytheParliamentadjournedthecase,mattersremainingin\'statuquo\',pendingamoreexhaustiveinquiry。Meanwhile,theaccused,forwhomseveralrelationsandfriendsgavesurety,wasallowedtobeatlibertyatArtigues,thoughremainingundercarefulsurveillance。

  Bertrandethereforeagainsawhimaninmateofthehouse,asifnodoubtshadeverbeencastonthelegitimacyoftheirunion。Whatthoughtspassedthroughhermindduringthelong\'tete—a—tete\'?Shehadaccusedthismanofimposture,andnow,notwithstandinghersecretconviction,shewasobligedtoappearasifshehadnosuspicion,asifshehadbeenmistaken,tohumiliateherselfbeforetheimpostor,andaskforgivenessfortheinsanityofherconduct;

  for,havingpubliclyrenouncedheraccusationbyrefusingtosweartoit,shehadnoalternativeleft。Inordertosustainherpartandtosavethehonouro£herchildren,shemusttreatthismanasherhusbandandappearsubmissiveandrepentant;shemustshowhimentireconfidence,astheonlymeansofrehabilitatinghimandlullingthevigilanceofjustice。WhatthewidowofMartinGuerremusthavesufferedinthislifeofeffortwasasecretbetweenGodandherself,butshelookedatherlittledaughter,shethoughtofherfastapproachingconfinement,andtookcourage。

  Oneevening,towardsnightfall,shewassittingnearhiminthemostprivatecornerofthegarden,withherlittlechildonherknee,whilsttheadventurer,sunkingloomythoughts,absentlystrokedSanxi\'sfairhead。Bothweresilent,foratthebottomoftheirheartseachknewtheother\'sthoughts,and,nolongerabletotalkfamiliarly,nordaringtoappearestranged,theyspent,whenalonetogether,longhoursofsilentdreariness。

  Allatoncealouduproarbrokethesilenceoftheirretreat;theyheardtheexclamationsofmanypersons,criesofsurprisemixedwithangrytones,hastyfootsteps,thenthegardengatewasflungviolentlyopen,andoldMargueriteappeared,pale,gasping,almostbreathless。Bertrandehastenedtowardsherinastonishment,followedbyherhusband,butwhennearenoughtospeakshecouldonlyanswerwithinarticulatesounds,pointingwithterrortothecourtyardofthehouse。Theylookedinthisdirection,andsawamanstandingatthethreshold;theyapproachedhim。Hesteppedforward,asiftoplacehimselfbetweenthem。Hewastall,dark;hisclothesweretorn;hehadawoodenleg;hiscountenancewasstern。HesurveyedBertrandewithagloomylook:shecriedaloud,andfellbackinsensible;……sherecognisedherrealhusband!

  ArnauldduThillstoodpetrified。WhileMarguerite,distractedherself,endeavouredtorevivehermistress,theneighbours,attractedbythenoise,invadedthehouse,andstopped,gazingwithstupefactionatthisastonishingresemblance。Thetwomenhadthesamefeatures,thesameheight,thesamebearing,andsuggestedonebeingintwopersons。Theygazedateachotherinterror,andinthatsuperstitiousagetheideaofsorceryandofinfernalinterventionnaturallyoccurredtothosepresent。Allcrossedthemselves,expectingeverymomenttoseefirefromheavenstrikeoneorotherofthetwomen,orthattheearthwouldengulfoneofthem。

  Nothinghappened,however,exceptthatbothwerepromptlyarrested,inorderthatthestrangemysterymightbeclearedup。

  Thewearerofthewoodenleg,interrogatedbythejudges,relatedthathecamefromSpain,wherefirstthehealingofhiswound,andthenthewantofmoney,haddetainedhimhitherto。Hehadtravelledonfoot,almostabeggar。HegaveexactlythesamereasonsforleavingArtiguesashadbeengivenbytheotherMartinGuerre,namely,adomesticquarrelcausedbyjealoussuspicion,thedesireofseeingothercountries,andanadventurousdisposition。Hehadgonebacktohisbirthplace,inBiscay;thenceheenteredtheserviceoftheCardinalofBurgos;thenthecardinal\'sbrotherhadtakenhimtothewar,andhehadservedwiththeSpanishtroops;atthebattleofSt。Quentiny——hisleghadbeenshatteredbyanarquebusball。Sofarhisrecitalwasthecounterpartoftheonealreadyheardbythejudgesfromtheotherman。Now,theybegantodiffer。MartinGuerrestatedthathehadbeenconveyedtoahousebyamanwhosefeatureshedidnotdistinguish,thathethoughthewasdying,andthatseveralhourselapsedofwhichhecouldgivenoaccount,beingprobablydelirious;thathesufferedlaterintolerablepain,andoncomingtohimself,foundthathisleghadbeenamputated。Heremainedlongbetweenlifeanddeath,buthewascaredforbypeasantswhoprobablysavedhislife;hisrecoverywasveryslow。Hediscoveredthatintheintervalbetweenbeingstruckdowninthebattleandrecoveringhissenses,hispapershaddisappeared,butitwasimpossibletosuspectthepeoplewhohadnursedhimwithsuchgenerouskindnessoftheft。Afterhisrecovery,beingabsolutelydestitute,hesoughttoreturntoFranceandagainseehiswifeandchild:hehadenduredallsortsofprivationsandfatigues,andatlength,exhausted,butrejoicingatbeingneartheendofhistroubles,hearrived,suspectingnothing,athisowndoor。Thentheterroroftheoldservant,afewbrokenwords,madehimguessatsomemisfortune,andtheappearanceofhiswifeandofamansoexactlylikehimselfstupefiedhim。Mattershadnowbeenexplained,andheonlyregrettedthathiswoundhadnotatonceendedhisexistence。

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