第15章

This scene considerably shook the opinion of the magistrates.They could not believe that an impostor， whatever he might be， would have sufficient daring and presence of mind thus to turn into mockery all that was most sacred.They set a new inquiry on foot， which， instead of producing enlightenment， only plunged them into still greater obscurity.Out of thirty witnesses heard， more than three-quarters agreed in identifying as Martin Guerre the man who claimed his name.

Never was greater perplexity caused by more extraordinary appearances.The remarkable resemblance upset all reasoning： some recognised him as Arnauld du Thill， and others asserted the exact contrary.He could hardly understand Basque， some said， though born in Biscay， was that astonishing， seeing he was only three when he left the country？ He could neither wrestle nor fence well， but having no occasion to practise these exercises he might well have forgotten them.The shoemaker--who made his shoes afore-time， thought he took another measure， but he might have made a mistake before or be mistaken now.The prisoner further defended himself by recapitulating the circumstances of his first meeting with Bertrande， on his return， the thousand and one little details he had mentioned which he only could have known， also the letters in his possession， all of which could only be explained by the assumption that he was the veritable Martin Guerre.Was it likely that he would be wounded over the left eye and leg as the missing man was supposed to be？ Was it likely that the old servant， that the four sisters， his uncle Pierre， many persons to whom he had related facts known only to himself， that all the community in short， would have recognised him？

And even the very intrigue suspected by Bertrande， which had aroused her jealous anger， this very intrigue， if it really existed， was it not another proof of the verity of his claim， since the person concerned， as interested and as penetrating as the legitimate wife；had also accepted him as her former lover？ Surely here was a mass of evidence sufficient to cast light on the case.Imagine an impostor arriving for the first time in a place where all the inhabitants are unknown to him， and attempting to personate a man who had dwelt there， who would have connections of all kinds， who would have played his part in a thousand different scenes， who would have confided his secrets， his opinions， to relations， friends， acquaintances， to all sorts of people； who had also a wife--that is to say， a person under whose eyes nearly his whole life would be passed， a person would study him perpetually， with whom he would be continually conversing on every sort of subject.Could such an impostor sustain his impersonation for a single day， without his memory playing him false？

>From the physical and moral impossibility of playing such a part， was it not reasonable to conclude that the accused， who had maintained it for more than two years， was the true Martin Guerre？

There seemed， in fact， to be nothing which could account for such an attempt being successfully made unless recourse was had to an accusation of sorcery.The idea of handing him over to the ecclesiastical authorities was briefly discussed， but proofs were necessary， and the judges hesitated.It is a principle of justice， which has become a precept in law， that in cases of uncertainty the accused has the benefit of the doubt； but at the period of which we are writing， these truths were far from being acknowledged； guilt was presumed rather than innocence； and torture， instituted to force confession from those who could not otherwise be convicted， is only explicable by supposing the judges convinced of the actual guilt of the accused； for no one would have thought of subjecting a possibly innocent person to this suffering.However， notwithstanding this prejudice， which has been handed down to us by some organs of the public ministry always disposed to assume the guilt of a suspected person，--notwithstanding this prejudice， the judges in this case neither ventured to condemn Martin Guerre themselves as an impostor， nor to demand the intervention of the Church.In this conflict of contrary testimony， which seemed to reveal the truth only to immediately obscure it again， in this chaos of arguments and conjectures which showed flashes of light only to extinguish them in greater darkness， consideration for the family prevailed.The sincerity of Bertrande， the future of the children， seemed reasons for proceeding with extreme caution， and this once admitted， could only yield to conclusive evidence.Consequently the Parliament adjourned the case， matters remaining in 'statu quo'， pending a more exhaustive inquiry.Meanwhile， the accused， for whom several relations and friends gave surety， was allowed to be at liberty at Artigues， though remaining under careful surveillance.

Bertrande therefore again saw him an inmate of the house， as if no doubts had ever been cast on the legitimacy of their union.What thoughts passed through her mind during the long 'tete-a-tete'？ She had accused this man of imposture， and now， notwithstanding her secret conviction， she was obliged to appear as if she had no suspicion， as if she had been mistaken， to humiliate herself before the impostor， and ask forgiveness for the insanity of her conduct；for， having publicly renounced her accusation by refusing to swear to it， she had no alternative left.In order to sustain her part and to save the honour oā her children， she must treat this man as her husband and appear submissive and repentant； she must show him entire confidence， as the only means of rehabilitating him and lulling the vigilance of justice.What the widow of Martin Guerre must have suffered in this life of effort was a secret between God and herself， but she looked at her little daughter， she thought of her fast approaching confinement， and took courage.