"Three things," replied the latter, unabashed, "this man is either mad,
or he has been suborned to tell lies, or he is simply mistaken."

The old man was struck dumb with astonishment. But his supposed nephew's
start of terror had not been lost upon the judge, also much impressed by
the straightforward frankness of Carbon Barreau. He caused fresh
investigations to be made, and other inhabitants of Sagias were summoned
to Rieux, who one and all agreed in identifying the accused as the same
Arnauld du Thill who had been born and had grown up under their very
eyes. Several deposed that as he grew up he had taken to evil courses,
and become an adept in theft and lying, not fearing even to take the
sacred name of God in vain, in order to cover the untruth of his daring
assertions. From such testimony the judge naturally concluded that
Arnauld du Thill was quite capable of carrying on, an imposture, and that
the impudence which he displayed was natural to his character. Moreover,
he noted that the prisoner, who averred that he was born in Biscay, knew
only a few words of the Basque language, and used these quite wrongly.
He heard later another witness who deposed that the original Martin
Guerre was a good wrestler and skilled in the art of fence, whereas the
prisoner, having wished to try what he could do, showed no skill
whatever. Finally, a shoemaker was interrogated, and his evidence was not
the least damning. Martin Guerre, he declared, required twelve holes to
lace his boots, and his surprise had been great when he found those of
the prisoner had only nine. Considering all these points, and the
cumulative evidence, the judge of Rieux set aside the favourable
testimony, which he concluded had been the outcome of general credulity,
imposed on by an extraordinary resemblance. He gave due weight also to
Bertrande's accusation, although she had never confirmed it, and now
maintained an obstinate silence; and he pronounced a judgment by which
Arnauld du Thill was declared "attainted and convicted of imposture, and