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。