jealousy which, aided by my uncle's
suggestions, guided my wife's hand when she signed this denunciation."

Bertrande remained silent.

"Do you dare," he continued, turning towards her,--"do you dare to swear
before God that jealousy did not inspire you with the wish to ruin me?"

"And you," she replied, "dare you swear that I was deceived in my
suspicions?"

"You see, gentlemen," exclaimed the prisoner triumphantly, "her jealousy
breaks forth before your eyes. Whether I am, or am not, guilty of the
sin she attributes to me, is not the question for you to decide. Can you
conscientiously admit the testimony of a woman who, after publicly
acknowledging me, after receiving me in her house, after living two years
in perfect amity with me, has, in a fit of angry vengeance, thought she
could give the lie to all her wards and actions? Ah! Bertrande," he
continued, "if it only concerned my life I think I could forgive a
madness of which your love is both the cause and the excuse, but you are
a mother, think of that! My punishment will recoil on the head of my
daughter, who is unhappy enough to have been born since our reunion, and
also on our unborn child, which you condemn beforehand to curse the union
which gave it being. Think of this, Bertrande, you will have to answer
before God for what you are now doing!"

The unhappy woman fell on her knees, weeping.

"I adjure you," he continued solemnly, "you, my wife, Bertrande de Rolls,
to swear now, here, on the crucifix, that I am an impostor and a cheat."

A crucifix was placed before Bertrande; she made a sign as if to push it
away, endeavoured to speak, and feebly exclaimed, "No," then fell to the
ground, and was carried out insensible.

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 i