"Bertrande!" it said in a voice of emotion. She raised her head, uttered
a piercing cry, and was clasped in her husband's arms.

The whole village became aware of this event that same evening. The
neighbours crowded round Bertrande's door, Martin's friends and relations
naturally wishing to see him after this miraculous reappearance, while
those who had never known him desired no less to gratify their curiosity;
so that the hero of the little drama, instead of remaining quietly at
home with his wife, was obliged to exhibit himself publicly in a
neighbouring barn. His four sisters burst through the crowd and fell on
his neck weeping; his uncle examined him doubtfully at first, then
extended his arms. Everybody recognised him, beginning with the old
servant Margherite, who had been with the young couple ever since their
wedding-day. People observed only that a riper age had strengthened his
features, and given more character to his countenance and more
development to his powerful figure; also that he had a scar over the
right eyebrow, and that he limped slightly. These were the marks of
wounds he had received, he said; which now no longer troubled him. He
appeared anxious to return to his wife and child, but the crowd insisted
on hearing the story of his adventures during his voluntary absence, and
he was obliged to satisfy them. Eight years ago, he said, the desire to
see more of the world had gained an irresistible mastery over him; he
yielded to it, and departed secretly. A natural longing took him to his
birthplace in Biscay, where he had seen his surviving relatives. There
he met the Cardinal of Burgos, who took him into his service, promising
him profit, hard knocks to give and take, and plenty of adventure. Some
time after, he left the cardinal's household for that of his brother,
who, much against his will, compelled him to follow him to the war and
bear arms against the French. Thus he found himself on the Spanish side
on the day of St. Quentin, and received a terrible gun-shot wound in the