martin guerre-第4章

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another　love〃



〃You　insult　me；〃　said　Bertrande；　rising　to　her　feet。



He　caught　her　in　his　arms。　　〃No；　no；　I　think　nothing　which　could

wound　you；　my　queen；　and　I　believe　your　fidelity；　even　as　before；　you

know；　on　that　first　journey；　when　you　wrote　me　these　loving　letters

which　I　have　treasured　ever　since。　　Here　they　are。〃　　And　he　drew

forth　some　papers；　on　which　Bertrande　recognised　her　own　handwriting。

〃Yes；〃　he　continued；　〃I　have　read　and　…re…read　them。。。。　　See；　you

spoke　then　of　your　love　and　the　sorrows　of　absence。　　But　why　all　this

trouble　and　terror？　　You　tremble；　just　as　you　did　when　I　first

received　you　from　your　father's　hands。。。。　　It　was　here；　in　this　very

room。。。。　　You　begged　me　then　to　leave　you；　to　let　you　spend　the　night

in　prayer；　but　I　insisted；　do　you　remember？　and　pressed　you　to　my

heart；　as　I　do　now。〃



〃Oh；〃　she　murmured　weakly；　〃have　pity！〃



But　the　words　were　intercepted　by　a　kiss；　and　the　remembrance　of　the

past；　the　happiness　of　the　present；　resumed　their　sway；　the　imaginary

terrors　were　forgotten；　and　the　curtains　closed　around　the　marriage…

bed。



The　next　day　was　a　festival　in　the　village　of　Artigues。　　Martin

returned　the　visits　of　all　who　had　come　to　welcome　him　the　previous

night；　and　there　were　endless　recognitions　and　embracings。　　The　young

men　remembered　that　he　had　played　with　them　when　they　were　little；

the　old　men；　that　they　had　been　at　his　wedding　when　he　was　only

twelve。



The　women　remembered　having　envied　Bertrande；　especially　the　pretty

Rose；　daughter　of　Marcel；　the　apothecary；　she　who　had　roused　the

demon　of　jealousy　in；　the　poor　wife's　heart。　　And　Rose　knew　quite

well　that　the　jealousy　was　not　without　some　cause；　for　Martin　had

indeed　shown　her　attention；　and　she　was　unable　to　see　him　again

without　emotion。　　She　was　now　the　wife　of　a　rich　peasant；　ugly；　old；

and　jealous；　and　she　compared；　sighing；　her　unhappy　lot　with　that　of

her　more　fortunate　neighbour。　　Martin's　sisters　detained　him　amongst

them；　and　spoke　of　their　childish　games　and　of　their　parents；　both

dead　in　Biscay。　　Martin　dried　the　tears　which　flowed　at　these

recollections　of　the　past；　and　turned　their　thoughts　to　rejoicing。

Banquets　were　given　and　received。　　Martin　invited　all　his　relations

and　former　friends；　an　easy　gaiety　prevailed。　　It　was　remarked　that

the　hero　of　the　feast　refrained　from　wine；　he　was　thereupon

reproached；　but　answered　that　on　account　of　the　wounds　he　had

received　he　was　obliged　to　avoid　excess。　　The　excuse　was　admitted；

the　result　of　Martin's　precautions　being　that　he　kept　a　clear　head　on

his　shoulders；　while　all　the　rest　had　their　tongues　loosed　by

drunkenness。



〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　one　of　the　guests；　who　had　studied　a　little　medicine；

〃Martin　is　quite　right　to　be　afraid　of　drink。　　Wounds　which　have

thoroughly　healed　may　be　reopened　and　inflamed　by　intemperance；　and

wine　in　the　case　of　recent　wounds　is　deadly　poison。　　Men　have　died　on

the　field　of　battle　in　an　hour　or　two　merely　because　they　had

swallowed　a　little　brandy。〃



Martin　Guerre　grew　pale；　and　began　a　conversation　with　the　pretty

Rose；　his　neighbour。　　Bertrande　observed　this；　but　without

uneasiness；　she　had　suffered　too　much　from　her　former　suspicions；

besides　her　husband　showed　her　so　much　affection　that　she　was　now

quite　happy。



When　the　first　few　days　were　over；　Martin　began　to　look　into　his

affairs。　　His　property　had　suffered　by　his　long　absence；　and　he　was

obliged　to　go　to　Biscay　to　claim　his　little　estate　there；　the　law

having　already　laid　hands　upon　it。　　It　was　several　months　before；　by

dint　of　making　judicious　sacrifices；　he　could　regain　possession　of

the　house　and　fields　which　had　belonged　to　his　father。　　This　at　last

accomplished；　he　returned　to　Artigues；　in　order　to　resume　the

management　of　his　wife's　property；　and　with　this　end　in　view；　about

eleven　months　after　his　return；　he　paid　a　visit　to　his　uncle　Pierre。



Pierre　was　expecting　him；　he　was　extremely　polite；　desired　Martin　；

to　sit　down；　overwhelmed　him　with　compliments；　knitting　his　brows　as

he　discovered　that　his　nephew　decidedly　meant　business。　　Martin　broke

silence。



〃Uncle；〃　he　said；　〃I　come　to　thank　you　for　the　care　you　have　taken　of

my　wife's　property；　she　could　never　have　managed　it　alone。　　You　have

received　the　income　in　the　family　interest：　as　a　good　guardian；　I

expected　no　less　from　your　affection。　　But　now　that　I　have　returned；

and　am　free　from　other　cares；　we　will　go　over　the　accounts；　if　you

please。〃



His　uncle　coughed　and　cleared　his　voice　before　replying；　then　said

slowly；　as　if　counting　his　words



〃It　is　all　accounted　for；　my　dear　nephew；　Heaven　be　praised！　　I　don't

owe　you　anything。〃



〃What！〃　exclaimed　the　astonished　Martin；　〃but　the　whole　income？〃



〃Was　well　and　properly　employed　in　the　maintenance　of　your　wife　and

child。〃



〃What！　　a　thousand　livres　for　that？　　And　Bertrande　lived　alone；　so

quietly　and　simply！　　Nonsense！　it　is　impossible。〃



〃Any　surplus；〃　resumed　the　old　man；　quite　unmoved；〃　any　surplus

went　to　pay　the　expenses　of　seed…time　and　harvest。〃



〃What！　at　a　time　when　labour　costs　next　to　nothing？〃



〃Here　is　the　account；〃　said　Pierre。



〃Then　the　account　is　a　false　one；〃　returned　his　nephew。



Pierre　thought　it　advisable　to　appear　extremely　offended　and　angry；

and　Martin；　exasperated　at　his　evident　dishonesty；　took　still　higher

ground；　and　threatened　to　bring　an　action　against　him。　　Pierre

ordered　him　to　leave　the　house；　and　suiting　actions　to　words；　took

hold　of　his　arm　to　enforce　his　departure。　　Martin；　furious；　turned

and　raised　his　fist　to　strike。



〃What！　strike　your　uncle；　wretched　boy！〃　exclaimed　the　old　man。



Martin's　hand　dropped；　but　he　left　the　house　uttering　reproaches　and

insults；　among　which　Pierre　distinguished



〃Cheat　that　you　are！〃



〃That　is　a　word　I　shall　remember；〃　cried　the　angry　old　man；　slamming

his　door　violently。



Martin　brought　an　action　before　the　judge　at　Rieux；　and　in　course　of

time　obtained　a　decree；　which；　reviewing　the　accounts　presented　by

Pierre；　disallowed　them；　and　condemned　the　dishonest　guardian　to　pay

his　nephew　four　hundred　livres　for　each　year　of　his　administration。

The　day　on　which　this　sum　had　to　be　disbursed　from　his　strong　box　the

old　usurer　vowed　vengeance；　but　until　he　could　gratify　his　hatred　he

was　forced　to　conceal　it；　and　to　receive　attempts　at　reconciliation

with　a　friendly　smile。　　It　was　not　until　six　months　later；　on　the

occasion　of　a　joyous　festivity；　that　Martin　again　set　foot　in　his

uncle's　house。　　The　bells　were　ringing　for　the　birth　of　a　child；

there　was　great　gaiety　at　Bertrande's　house；　where　all　the　guests

were　waiting　on　the　threshold　for　the　godfather　in　order　to　take　the

infant　to　church；　and　when　Martin　appeared；　escorting　his　uncle；　who

was　adorned　with　a　huge　bouquet　for　the　occasion；　and　who　now　came

forward　and　took　the　hand　of　Rose；　the　pretty　godmother；　there　were

cries　of　joy　on　all　sides。　　Bertrande　was　delighted　at　this

reconciliation；　and　dreamed　only　of　happiness。　　She　was　so　happy　now；

her　long　sorrow　was　atoned　for；　her　regret　was　at　an　end；　her　prayers

seemed　to　have　been　heard；　the　long　interval　between　the　former

delights　and　the　present　seemed　wiped　out　as　if　the　bond　of　union　had

never　been　broken；　and　if　she　remembered　her　grief　at　all；　it　was

only　to　intensify　the　new　joys　by　comparison。　　She　loved　her　husband

more　than　ever；　he　was　full　of　affection　for　her；　and　she　was

grateful　for　his　love。　　The　past　had　now　no　shadow；　the　future　no

cloud；　and　the　birth　of　a　daughter；　drawing　still　closer　the　links

which　united　them；　seemed　a　new　pledge　of　felicity。　　Alas！　the

horizon　which　appeared　so　bright　and　clear　to　the　poor　woman　was

doomed　soon　again　to　be　overcast。



The　very　evening　of　the　christening　party；　a　band　of　musicians　and

jugglers　happened　to　pass　through　the　village；　and　the　inhabitants

showed　themselves　liberal。　　Pierre　asked　questions；　and　found　that

the　leader　of　the　band　was　a　Spaniard。　　He　invited　the　man　to　his　own

house；　and　remained　closeted　with　him　for　nearly　an　hour；　dismissing

him　at　length　with　a　refilled　purse。　　Two　days　later　the　old　man

announced　to　the　family　that　he　was　going　to　Picardy　to　see　a　former

partner　on　a　matter　of　business；　and　he　departed　accordingly；　saying

he　should　return　before　long。



The　day　on　which　Bertrande　again　saw　her　uncle　was；　indeed；　a

terrible　one。　　She　was　sitting　by　the　cradle　of　the　lately…born

infant；　watching　for　its　awakening；　when　the　door　opened；　and　Pierre

Guerre　strode　in。　　Bertrande　drew　back　with　an　instinct　of　terror　as

soon　as　she　saw　him；　for　his　expression　was　at　once　wicked　and

joyfulan　expression　of　gratified　hate；　of　mingled　rage　and　triumph；

and　his　smile　was　terrible　to　behold。　　She　did　not　venture　to　speak；

but　motioned　him　to　a　seat。　　He　came　straight　up　to　her；　and　raising

his　head；　said　loudly



〃Kneel　down　at　once；　madamekneel　down；　and　ask　pardon　from　Almighty

God！〃



〃Are　you　mad；　Pierre？〃　she　replied；　gazing　at　him　in　astonishment。



〃You；　at　least；　ought　to　know　that　I　am　not。〃



〃Pray　for　forgivenessI！　and　what　for；　in　Heaven's　name？〃



〃For　the　crime　in　which　you　are　an　accomplice。〃



〃Please　explain　yourself。〃



〃Oh！〃　said　Pierre；　with　bitter　irony；　〃a　woman　always　thinks　herself

innocent　as　long　as　her　sin　is　hidden；　she　thinks　the　truth　will

never　be　known；　and　her　conscience　goes　quietly　to　sleep；　forgetting

her　faults。　　Here　is　a　woman　who　thought　her　sins　nicely　concealed；

chance　favoured　her：　an　absent　husband；　probably　no　more；　another　man

so　exactly　like　him　in　height；　face；　and　manner　that　everyone　else　is

deceived！　　Is　it　strange　that　a　weak；　sensitive　woman；　wearied　of

widowhood；　should　willingly　allow　herself　to　be　imposed　on？〃



Bertrande　listened　without　understanding；　she　tried　to　interrupt；　but

Pierre　went　on



〃It　was　easy　to　accept　this　stranger　without　having　to　blush　for　it；

easy　to　give　him　the　name　and　the　rights　of　a　husband！　　She　could

even　appear　faithful　while　really　guilty；　she　could　seem　constant；

though　really　fickle；　and　she　could；　under　a　veil　of　mystery；　at　once

reconcile　her　honour；　her　dutyperhaps　even　her　love。〃



〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean？〃　cried　Bertrande；　wringing　her　hands　in

terror。



〃That　you　are　countenancing　an　impostor　who　is　not　your　husband。〃



Feeling　as　if　the　ground　were　passing　from　beneath　her；　Bertrande

staggered；　and　caught　at　the　nearest　piece　of　furniture　to　save

herself　from　falling；　then；　collecting　all　her　strength　to　meet　this

extraordinary　attack；　she　faced　the　old　man。



〃What！　my　husband；　your　nephew；　an　impostor！〃



〃Don't　you　know　it？〃



〃I！！〃



This　cry；　which　came　from　her　heart；　convinced　Pierre　that　she　did

not　know；　and　that　she　had　sustained　a　terrible　shock。　　He　continued

more　quietly



〃What；