Wearesometimesastonishedatthestrikingresemblanceexistingbetweentwopersonswhoareabsolutestrangerstoeachother，butinfactitistheoppositewhichoughttosurpriseus。Indeed，whyshouldwenotratheradmireaCreativePowersoinfiniteinitsvarietythatitneverceasestoproduceentirelydifferentcombinationswithpreciselythesameelements？Themoreoneconsidersthisprodigiousversatilityofform，themoreoverwhelmingitappears。
Tobeginwith，eachnationhasitsowndistinctandcharacteristictype，separatingitfromotherracesofmen。ThustherearetheEnglish，Spanish，German，orSlavonictypes;again，ineachnationwefindfamiliesdistinguishedfromeachotherbylessgeneralbutstillwell—pronouncedfeatures;andlastly，theindividualsofeachfamily，differingagaininmoreorlessmarkedgradations。Whatamultitudeofphysiognomies！Whatvarietyofimpressionfromtheinnumerablestampsofthehumancountenance！Whatmillionsofmodelsandnocopies！Consideringthiseverchangingspectacle，whichoughttoinspireuswithmostastonishment——theperpetualdifferenceoffacesortheaccidentalresemblanceofafewindividuals？Isitimpossiblethatinthewholewideworldthereshouldbefoundbychancetwopeoplewhosefeaturesarecastinoneandthesamemould？Certainlynot;thereforethatwhichoughttosurpriseusisnotthattheseduplicatesexisthereandthereupontheearth，butthattheyaretobemetwithinthesameplace，andappeartogetherbeforeoureyes，littleaccustomedtoseesuchresemblances。FromAmphitryondowntoourowndays，manyfableshaveowedtheirorigintothisfact，andhistoryalsohasprovidedafewexamples，suchasthefalseDemetriusinRussia，theEnglishPerkinWarbeck，andseveralothercelebratedimpostors，whilstthestorywenowpresenttoourreadersisnolesscuriousandstrange。
Onthe10thof，August1557，aninauspiciousdayinthehistoryofFrance，theroarofcannonwasstillheardatsixintheeveningintheplainsofSt。Quentin;wheretheFrencharmyhadjustbeendestroyedbytheunitedtroopsofEnglandandSpain，commandedbythefamousCaptainEmanuelPhilibert，DukeofSavoy。Anutterlybeateninfantry，theConstableMontmorencyandseveralgeneralstakenprisoner，theDuked\'Enghienmortallywounded，theflowerofthenobilitycutdownlikegrass，——suchweretheterribleresultsofabattlewhichplungedFranceintomourning，andwhichwouldhavebeenablotonthereignofHenryII，hadnottheDukeofGuiseobtainedabrilliantrevengethefollowingyear。
Inalittlevillagelessthanamilefromthefieldofbattleweretobeheardthegroansofthewoundedanddying，whohadbeencarriedthitherfromthefieldofbattle。Theinhabitantshadgivenuptheirhousestobeusedashospitals，andtwoorthreebarbersurgeonswenthitherandthither，hastilyorderingoperationswhichtheylefttotheirassistants，anddrivingoutfugitiveswhohadcontrivedtoaccompanythewoundedunderpretenceofassistingfriendsornearrelations。Theyhadalreadyexpelledagoodnumberofthesepoorfellows，when，openingthedoorofasmallroom，theyfoundasoldiersoakedinbloodlyingonaroughmat，andanothersoldierapparentlyattendingonhimwiththeutmostcare。
\"Whoareyou？\"saidoneofthesurgeonstothesufferer。\"Idon\'tthinkyoubelongtoourFrenchtroops。\"
\"Help！\"criedthesoldier，\"onlyhelpme！andmayGodblessyouforit！\"
\"Fromthecolourofthattunic，\"remarkedtheothersurgeon，\"I
shouldwagertherascalbelongstosomeSpanishgentleman。Bywhatblunderwashebroughthere？\"
\"Forpity\'ssake！murmuredthepoorfellow，\"Iaminsuchpain。\"
\"Die，wretch！\"respondedthelastspeaker，pushinghimwithhisfoot。
\"Die，likethedogyouare！\"
Butthisbrutality，answeredasitwasbyanagonisedgroan，disgustedtheothersurgeon。
\"Afterall，heisaman，andawoundedmanwhoimploreshelp。Leavehimtome，Rene。\"
Renewentoutgrumbling，andtheonewhoremainedproceededtoexaminethewound。Aterriblearquebus—shothadpassedthroughtheleg，shatteringthebone:amputationwasabsolutelynecessary。
Beforeproceedingtotheoperation，thesurgeonturnedtotheothersoldier，whohadretiredintothedarkestcorneroftheroom。
\"Andyou，whomayyoube？\"heasked。
Themanrepliedbycomingforwardintothelight:nootheranswerwasneeded。Heresembledhiscompanionsocloselythatnoonecoulddoubttheywerebrothers—twinbrothers，probably。Bothwereabovemiddleheight;bothhadolive—browncomplexions，blackeyes，hookednoses，pointedchins，aslightlyprojectinglowerlip;bothwereround—shouldered，thoughthisdefectdidnotamounttodisfigurement:
thewholepersonalitysuggestedstrength，andwasnotdestituteofmasculinebeauty。Sostrongalikenessishardlyeverseen;eventheiragesappearedtoagree，foronewouldnothavesupposedeithertobemorethanthirty—two;andtheonlydifferencenoticeable，besidesthepalecountenanceofthewoundedman，wasthathewasthinascomparedwiththemoderatefleshinessoftheother，alsothathehadalargescarovertherighteyebrow。
\"Lookwellafteryourbrother\'ssoul，\"saidthesurgeontothesoldier，whoremainedstanding;\"ifitisinnobettercasethanhisbody，itismuchtobepitied。\"
\"Istherenohope？\"inquiredtheSosiaofthewoundedman。
\"Thewoundistoolargeandtoodeep，\"repliedthemanofscience，\"tobecauterisedwithboilingoil，accordingtotheancientmethod。
\'Delendaestcausamali，\'thesourceofevilmustbedestroyed，assaysthelearnedAmbrosePare;Ioughttherefore\'secareferro，\'——thatistosay，takeofftheleg。MayGodgrantthathesurvivetheoperation！\"
Whileseekinghisinstruments，helookedthesupposedbrotherfullintheface，andadded——
\"Buthowisitthatyouarecarryingmusketsinopposingarmies，forIseethatyoubelongtous，whilethispoorfellowwearsSpanishuniform？\"
\"Oh，thatwouldbealongstorytotell，\"repliedthesoldier，shakinghishead。\"Asforme，Ifollowedthecareerwhichwasopentome，andtookserviceofmyownfreewillunderthebannerofourlordking，HenryII。Thisman，whomyourightlysupposetobemybrother，wasborninBiscay，andbecameattachedtothehouseholdoftheCardinalofBurgos，andafterwardstothecardinal\'sbrother，whomhewasobligedtofollowtothewar。Irecognisedhimonthebattle—fieldjustashefell;Idraggedhimoutofaheapofdead，andbroughthimhere。\"
Duringhisrecitalthisindividual\'sfeaturesbetrayedconsiderableagitation，butthesurgeondidnotheedit。Notfindingsomenecessaryinstruments，\"Mycolleague，\"heexclaimed，\"musthavecarriedthemoff。Heconstantlydoesthis，outofjealousyofmyreputation;butIwillbeevenwithhimyet！Suchsplendidinstruments！Theywillalmostworkofthemselves，andarecapableofimpartingsomeskilleventohim，dunceasheis！……Ishallbebackinanhourortwo;hemustrest，sleep，havenothingtoexcitehim，nothingtoinflamethewound;andwhentheoperationiswellover，weshallsee！MaytheLordbegracioustohim！\"
Thenhewenttothedoor，leavingthepoorwretchtothecareofhissupposedbrother。
\"MyGod！\"headded，shakinghishead，\"ifhesurvive，itwillbebythehelpofamiracle。\"
Scarcelyhadhelefttheroom，whentheunwoundedsoldiercarefullyexaminedthefeaturesofthewoundedone。
\"Yes，\"hemurmuredbetweenhisteeth，\"theywererightinsayingthatmyexactdoublewastobefoundinthehostilearmy……Trulyonewouldnotknowusapart！……Imightbesurveyingmyselfinamirror。IdidwelltolookforhimintherearoftheSpanisharmy，and，thankstothefellowwhorolledhimoversoconvenientlywiththatarquebus—shot;Iwasabletoescapethedangersofthemeleebycarryinghimoutofit。\"
\"Butthat\'snotall，\"hethought，stillcarefullystudyingthetorturedfaceoftheunhappysufferer;\"itisnotenoughtohavegotoutofthat。Ihaveabsolutelynothingintheworld，nohome，noresources。Beggarbybirth，adventurerbyfortune，Ihaveenlisted，andhaveconsumedmypay;Ihopedforplunder，andhereweareinfullflight！WhatamItodo？Goanddrownmyself？No，certainlyacannon—ballwouldbeasgoodasthat。Butcan\'tIprofitbythischance，andobtainadecentpositionbyturningtomyownadvantagethiscuriousresemblance，andmakingsomeuseofthismanwhomFatehasthrowninmyway，andwhohasbutashorttimetolive？\"
Arguingthus，hebentovertheprostratemanwithacynicallaugh:
onemighthavethoughthewasSatanwatchingthedepartureofasoultooutterlylosttoescapehim。
\"Alas！alas！\"criedthesufferer;\"mayGodhavemercyonme！Ifeelmyendisnear。\"
\"Bah！comrade，driveawaythesedismalthoughts。Yourlegpainsyou——welltheywillcutitoff！Thinkonlyoftheotherone，andtrustinProvidence！\"
\"Water，adropofwater，forHeaven\'ssake！\"Thesuffererwasinahighfever。Thewould—benurselookedroundandsawajugofwater，towardswhichthedyingmanextendedatremblinghand。Atrulyinfernalideaenteredhismind。Hepouredsomewaterintoagourdwhichhungfromhisbelt，heldittothelipsofthewoundedman，andthenwithdrewit。
\"Oh！Ithirst—thatwater！……Forpity\'ssake，givemesome！\"
\"Yes，butononeconditionyoumusttellmeyourwholehistory。\"
\"Yes……butgivemewater！\"
Histormentorallowedhimtoswallowamouthful，thenoverwhelmedhimwithquestionsastohisfamily，hisfriendsandfortune，andcompelledhimtoanswerbykeepingbeforehiseyesthewaterwhichalonecouldrelievethefeverwhichdevouredhim。Afterthisofteninterruptedinterrogation，thesufferersankbackexhausted，andalmostinsensible。But，notyetsatisfied，hiscompanionconceivedtheideaofrevivinghimwithafewdropsofbrandy，whichquicklybroughtbackthefever，andexcitedhisbrainsufficientlytoenablehimtoanswerfreshquestions。Thedosesofspiritweredoubledseveraltimes，attheriskofendingtheunhappyman\'sdaysthenandthere:Almostdelirious，hisheadfeelingasifonfire，hissufferingsgavewaytoafeverishexcitement，whichtookhimbacktootherplacesandothertimes:hebegantorecallthedaysofhisyouthandthecountrywherehelived。Buthistonguewasstillfetteredbyakindofreserve:hissecretthoughts，theprivatedetailsofhispastlifewerenotyettold，anditseemedasthoughhemightdieatanymoment。Timewaspassing，nightalreadycomingon，anditoccurredtothemercilessquestionertoprofitbythegatheringdarkness。Byafewsolemnwordshearousedthereligiousfeelingsofthesufferer，terrifiedhimbyspeakingofthepunishmentsofanotherlifeandtheflamesofhell，untiltothedeliriousfancyofthesickmanhetooktheformofajudgewhocouldeitherdeliverhimtoeternaldamnationoropenthegatesofheaventohim。Atlength，overwhelmedbyavoicewhichresoundedinhisearlikethatofaministerofGod，thedyingmanlaidbarehisinmostsoulbeforehistormentor，andmadehislastconfessiontohim。
Yetafewmoments，andtheexecutioner——hedeservesnoothername——
hangsoverhisvictim，openshistunic，seizessomepapersandafewcoins，halfdrawshisdagger，butthinksbetterofit;then，contemptuouslyspurningthevictim，astheothersurgeonhaddone——
\"Imightkillyou，\"hesays，\"butitwouldbeauselessmurder;itwouldonlybehasteningyourlastSighbyanhourortwo，andadvancingmyclaimstoyourinheritancebythesamespaceoftime。\"
Andheaddsmockingly:——
\"Farewell，mybrother！\"
Thewoundedsoldieruttersafeeblegroan;theadventurerleavestheroom。
Fourmonthslater，awomansatatthedoorofahouseatoneend，ofthevillageofArtigues，nearRieux，andplayedwithachildaboutnineortenyearsofage。Stillyoung，shehadthebrowncomplexionofSouthernwomen，andherbeautifulblackhairfellincurlsaboutherface。Herflashingeyesoccasionallybetrayedhiddenpassions，concealed，however，beneathanapparentindifferenceandlassitude，andherwastedformseemedtoacknowledgetheexistenceofsomesecretgrief。Anobserverwouldhavedivinedashatteredlife，awitheredhappiness，asoulgrievouslywounded。
Herdresswasthatofawealthypeasant;andsheworeoneofthelonggownswithhangingsleeveswhichwereinfashioninthesixteenthcentury。Thehouseinfrontofwhichshesatbelongedtoher，soalsotheimmensefieldwhichadjoinedthegarden。Herattentionwasdividedbetweentheplayofhersonandtheordersshewasgivingtoanoldservant，whenanexclamationfromthechildstartledher。
\"Mother！\"hecried，\"mother，thereheis！\"
Shelookedwherethechildpointed，andsawayoungboyturningthecornerofthestreet。
\"Yes，\"continuedthechild，\"thatistheladwho，whenIwasplayingwiththeotherboysyesterday，calledmeallsortsofbadnames。\"
\"Whatsortofnames，mychild？\"
\"TherewasoneIdidnotunderstand，butitmusthavebeenaverybadone，fortheotherboysallpointedatme，andleftmealone。Hecalledme——andhesaiditwasonlywhathismotherhadtoldhim——hecalledmeawickedbastard！\"
Hismother\'sfacebecamepurplewithindignation。\"What！\"shecried，\"theydared！……Whataninsult！\"
\"Whatdoesthisbadwordmean，mother？\"askedthechild，halffrightenedbyheranger。\"Isthatwhattheycallpoorchildrenwhohavenofather？\"
Hismotherfoldedhiminherarms。\"Oh！\"shecontinued，\"itisaninfamousslander！Thesepeopleneversawyourfather，theyhaveonlybeenheresixyears，andthisistheeighthsincehewentaway，butthisisabominable！Weweremarriedinthatchurch，wecameatoncetoliveinthishouse，whichwasmymarriageportion，andmypoorMartinhasrelationsandfriendsherewhowillnotallowhiswifetobeinsulted——\"
\"Sayrather，hiswidow，\"interruptedasolemnvoice。
\"Ah！uncle！\"exclaimedthewoman，turningtowardsanoldmanwhohadjustemergedfromthehouse。
\"Yes，Bertrande，\"continuedthenew—comer，\"youmustgetreconciledtotheideathatmynephewhasceasedtoexist。Iamsurehewasnotsuchafoolastohaveremainedallthistimewithoutlettingushearfromhim。Hewasnotthefellowtogooffatatangent，onaccountofadomesticquarrelwhichyouhavenevervouchsafedtoexplaintome，andtoretainhisangerduringalltheseeightyears！Wheredidhego？Whatdidhedo？Wenoneofusknow，neitheryounorI，noranybodyelse。Heisassuredlydead，andliesinsomegraveyardfarenoughfromhere。MayGodhavemercyonhissoul！\"
Bertrande，weeping，madethesignofthecross，andbowedherheaduponherhands。
\"Good—bye，Sanxi，\"saidtheuncle，tappingthechild\'s，\'cheek。
Sanxiturnedsulkilyaway。
Therewascertainlynothingspeciallyattractiveabouttheuncle:hebelongedtoatypewhichchildreninstinctivelydislike，false，crafty，withsquintingeyeswhichcontinuallyappearedtocontradicthishoneyedtongue。
\"Bertrande，\"hesaid，\"yourboyislikehisfatherbeforehim，andonlyanswersmykindnesswithrudeness。\"
\"Forgivehim，\"answeredthemother;\"heisveryyoung，anddoesnotunderstandtherespectduetohisfather\'suncle。Iwillteachhimbetterthings;hewillsoonlearnthatheoughttobegratefulforthecareyouhavetakenofhislittleproperty。\"
\"Nodoubt，nodoubt，\"saidtheuncle，tryinghardtosmile。\"Iwillgiveyouagoodaccountofit，forIshallonlyhavetoreckonwithyoutwoinfuture。Come，mydear，believeme，yourhusbandisreallydead，andyouhavesorrowedquiteenoughforagood—for—nothingfellow。Thinknomoreofhim。\"
Sosaying，hedeparted，leavingthepooryoungwomanapreytothesaddestthoughts。
BertrandedeRolls，naturallygiftedwithextremesensibility，onwhichacarefuleducationhadimposedduerestraint，hadbarelycompletedhertwelfthyearwhenshewasmarriedtoMartinGuerre，aboyofaboutthesameage，suchprecociousunionsbeingthennotuncommon，especiallyintheSouthernprovinces。Theyweregenerallysettledbyconsiderationsoffamilyinterest，assistedbytheextremelyearlydevelopmenthabitualtotheclimate。Theyoungcouplelivedforalongtimeasbrotherandsister，andBertrande，thusearlyfamiliarwiththeideaofdomestichappiness，bestowedherwholeaffectionontheyouthwhomshehadbeentaughttoregardasherlife\'scompanion。HewastheAlphaandOmegaofherexistence;
allherlove，allherthoughts，weregiventohim，andwhentheirmarriagewasatlengthcompleted，thebirthofasonseemedonlyanotherlinkinthealreadylongexistingbondofunion。But，asmanywisemenhaveremarked，auniformhappiness，whichonlyattacheswomenmoreandmore，hasoftenuponmenapreciselycontraryeffect，andsoitwaswithMartinGuerre。Ofalivelyandexcitabletemperament，heweariedofayokewhichhadbeenimposedsoearly，and，anxioustoseetheworldandenjoysomefreedom，heonedaytookadvantageofadomesticdifference，inwhichBertrandeownedherselftohavebeenwrong，andlefthishouseandfamily。Hewassoughtandawaitedinvain。Bertrandespentthefirstmonthinvainlyexpectinghisreturn，thenshebetookherselftoprayer;butHeavenappeareddeaftohersupplications，thetruantreturnednot。Shewishedtogoinsearchofhim，buttheworldiswide，andnosingletraceremainedtoguideher。Whattortureforatenderheart！Whatsufferingforasoulthirstingforlove！Whatsleeplessnights！Whatrestlessvigils！Yearspassedthus;hersonwasgrowingup，yetnotawordreachedherfromthemanshelovedsomuch。Shespokeoftenofhimtotheuncomprehendingchild，shesoughttodiscoverhisfeaturesinthoseofherboy，butthoughsheendeavouredtoconcentrateherwholeaffectiononherson，sherealisedthatthereissufferingwhichmaternallovecannotconsole，andtearswhichitcannotdry。
Consumedbythestrengthofthesorrowwhicheverdweltinherheart，thepoorwomanwasslowlywasting，wornoutbytheregretsofthepast，thevaindesiresofthepresent，andthedrearyprospectofthefuture。Andnowshehadbeenopenlyinsulted，herfeelingsasamotherwoundedtothequirk;andherhusband\'suncle，insteadofdefendingandconsolingher，couldgiveonlycoldcounselandunsympatheticwords！