"Fine proofs indeed! The story of a vagabond who flattered your hatred
in hope of a reward, the gossip of a distant village, the recollections
of ten years back, and finally, your own word, the word of a man who
seeks only revenge, the word of a man who swore to make Martin pay dearly
for the results of his own avarice, a man of furious passions such as
yours! No, Pierre, no, I do not believe you, and I never will!"

"Other people may perhaps be less incredulous, and if I accuse him
publicly----"

"Then I shall contradict you publicly!" And coming quickly forward, her
eyes shining with virtuous anger--

"Leave this house, go," she said; "it is you yourself who are the
impostor--go!"

"I shall yet know how to convince everyone, and will make you acknowledge
it," cried the furious old man.

He went out, and Bertrande sank exhausted into a chair. All the strength
which had supported her against Pierre vanished as soon as she was alone,
and in spite of her resistance to suspicion, the terrible light of doubt
penetrated her heart, and extinguished the pure torch of trustfulness
which had guided her hitherto--a doubt, alas! which attacked at once her
honour and her love, for she loved with all a woman's tender affection.
Just as actual poison gradually penetrates and circulates through the
whole system, corrupting the blood and affecting the very sources of life
until it causes the destruction of the whole body, so does that mental
poison, suspicion, extend its ravages in the soul which has received it.
Bertrande remembered with terror her first feelings at the sight of the