He began by explaining the cause of his long absence, originating, he
said, in a domestic quarrel, as his wife well remembered. He there
related his life during these eight years. At first he wandered over the
country, wherever his curiosity and the love of travel led him. He then
had crossed the frontier, revisited Biscay, where he was born, and having
entered the service of the Cardinal of Burgos, he passed thence into the
army of the King of Spain. He was wounded at the battle of St. Quentin,
conveyed to a neighbouring village, where he recovered, although
threatened with amputation. Anxious to again behold his wife and child,
his other relations and the land of his adoption, he returned to
Artigues, where he was immediately recognised by everyone, including the
identical Pierre Guerre, his uncle, who now had the cruelty to disavow
him. In fact, the latter had shown him special affection up to the day
when Martin required an account of his stewardship. Had he only had the
cowardice to sacrifice his money and thereby defraud his children, he
would not to-day be charged as an impostor. "But," continued Martin, "I
resisted, and a violent quarrel ensued, in which anger perhaps carried me
too far; Pierre Guerre, cunning and revengeful, has waited in silence.
He has taken his time and his measures to organise this plot, hoping
thereby to obtain his ends, to bring justice to the help of his avarice,
and to acquire the spoils he coveted, and revenge for his defeat, by
means of a sentence obtained from the scruples of the judges." Besides
these explanations, which did not appear wanting in probability, Martin
vehemently protested his innocence, demanding that his wife should be
confronted with him, and declaring that in his presence she would not
sustain the charge of personation brought against him, and that her mind
not being animated by the blind hatred which dominated his persecutor,
the truth would undoubtedly prevail.