installed himself as Bertrande's husband. Two
children were born to them, one of whom died
an infant.

Who could entertain a doubt that the new
comer was the real Martin Guerre? Yet a
most extraordinary report was spread in
Artigues. A soldier from Rochefort, who by
chance visited Artigues, publicly declared that
the real Martin Guerre, with whom he was well
acquainted, was in Flanders; at St. Laurent he
had lost a leg by a cannon-ball, and had a wooden
one; consequently the man with two sound
legs must be an impostor. Yet who had the
right, on the simple word of an unknown soldier,
to question the identity of a man whom both
wife and relations had acknowledged? This
stroller might have an ulterior object in view, in
spreading such a report, and his statements
must be fabulous. For, if Martin Guerre were
elsewhere, why did he not claim his inheritance?
Some sensation was, however, created when it
was found that Bertrande had sent for a solicitor
to take down the soldier's statement.

Another circumstance shortly afterwards
attracted the attention of the neighbours to the
Guerre family. Between Uncle Peter and his
nephew there were violent disputes. It is true,
Uncle Peter had handed over his nephew's
property to him, but he postponed from day to day
the rendering an account of his trusteeship.
Martin pressed him hard; he brought an action
against him, and they became inveterate enemies.
The uncle was even accused of having attempted
Martin's life; in a fit of anger one day he
knocked him down, and was about to hit him
with an iron bar, when Bertrande rushed
forward and preserved her husband. Peter now
thought only of revenge.

A dispute with one Jean of Escarbœuf led to
Martin's imprisonment. The uncle took
advantage of the opportunity to endeavour to
persuade Bertrande to leave her husband. He said
he was an impostor, whom she ought to turn
out of doors; he even threatened to have them
both turned out of house and home, if she lived
with him any longer. But the wife was not
to be intimidated, and firmly declared that no
one could know her husband better than
herself. If he were not her husband, he was
the devil in her husband's skin. The
exasperated uncle had no better success with the
other relations. Jean Loze, a man of considerable
property, and consul at Palhos—to whom
Peter applied for a loan of money to institute
proceedings against the presumed impostor—
declared that he recognised Martin, and declined
to advance any money to do him harm; if he did
advance money, it would be to defend him
against his calumniators.

The uncle's attempts seemed to have failed
completely, and Martin having been released
from his short incarceration, was received back
with open arms by his wife. To the astonishment
of every one, on the following morning
Martin was forcibly taken from his house by
the uncle and his four sons-in-law, all armed,
and was lodged in the prison at Rieux. The
report accredited was, that this was done at the
request of Bertrande herself, who had at last
found out that her supposed husband was an
impostor.

Respecting Bertrande's own feelings and
belief, the greatest uncertainty prevailed. She
now seemed tortured with doubt about Martin's
identity, but more inclined towards him
than otherwise. She had given her uncle the
authority to take the step he had taken, but
probably in consequence of his threats of what
he would do if she refused; for, scarcely had
Martin been lodged in prison, when she sent
him clothes, clean linen, and money.

This extraordinary trial came off before the
Court of Justice at Rieux.

The plaintiffs pleaded that the accused was not
the missing Martin Guerre, but was a certain
Arnold Tilh, commonly called Pansette, born at
Sagias. They denounced him as an impostor,
amenable to all the rigours of the law.

Martin's defence was simple and natural.
Having left his father's house in consequence of
having offended him, he had wandered about
from place to place; and he mentioned by name
many persons in whose society he had been.
He had enlisted, and served in the French army
nearly eight years; had then deserted to Spain;
and, having heard that he could return home
without danger, had done so. On reaching
Artigues, he was immediately recognised by the
inhabitants, who, with rejoicings, accompanied
him to his wife's house. His wife had received
him without the slightest doubt or hesitation.
His relations and friends, including his four
sisters, threw themselves into his arms, and
embraced him with tears, before he had narrated
his adventures. If his wife now, apparently,
were among his accusers, after living three
years with him without the slightest compunction,
it was clear that this could not be an act
of her own free will, but must be the result
of threats and intimidations on the part of the
uncle and his partisans. The motives were
revenge and self-interest. The well-known violent
disputes between him and his wicked relative
offered him the best means of defence.
He therefore prayed that Bertrande should
be released from the power exercised over her
by her uncle; and that, to shield her against his
malicious influence, she should be placed under
the care of some disinterested persons. This
was granted. A species of clerical edict was
issued, threatening excommunication against
all persons cognisant of the affair who did not
come forward and tell the truth.

Every investigation made by the authorities
tended to corroborate the statements of the
accused as to the towns he had visited and the
persons he had mixed with. In cross-examination,
his replies were quite satisfactory. He
talked without any hesitation of his native
place, his father, his mother, his marriage, the
priest who had married him to Bertrande; he
even remembered how some of the guests at
the marriage were dressed. On the marriage
night, some of the young men of the place had