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 of her children, she
must treat this man as her husband and appear submissive and repentant;
she must show him entire confiden