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 returned Martin Guerre, her involuntary repugnance, her astonishment at not feeling more in touch with the husband whom she had so sincerely regretted.  She remembered also, as if she saw it for the first time, that Martin, formerly quick, lively, and hasty tempered, now seemed thoughtful, and fully master of himself.

This change of character she had supposed due to the natural development of age, she now trembled at the idea of another possible cause.  Some other little details began to occur to her mind—­the forgetfulness or abstraction of her husband as to a few insignificant things; thus it sometimes happened that he did not answer to his name of Martin, also that he mistook the road to a hermitage, formerly well known to them both, and again that he could not answer when addressed in Basque, although he him self had taught her the little she knew of this language.  Besides, since his return, he would never write in her presence, did he fear that she would notice some difference?  She had paid little or no attention to these trifles; now, pieced together, they assumed an alarming importance.  An appalling terror seized Bertrande:  was she to remain in this uncertainty, or should she seek an explanation which might prove her destruction?  And how discover the truth—­by questioning the guilty man, by noting his confusion, his change of colour, by forcing a confession from him?  But she had lived with him for two years, he was the father of her child, she could not ruin him without ruining herself, and, an explanation once sought, she could neither punish him and escape disgrace, nor pardon him without sharing his guilt.  To reproach him with his conduct and then keep silence would destroy her peace for ever; to cause a scandal by denouncing him would bring dishonour upon herself and her child.  Night found her involved in these hideous perplexities, too weak to surmount them; an icy chill came over her, she went to bed, and awoke in a high fever.  For several days she hovered between life and death, and Martin Guerre bestowed the most tender care upon her.  She was greatly moved thereby, having one of those impressionable minds which recognise kindness