The true Martin-Guerre, on the other hand, took great delight in holding his own against the most expert tennis-players in the presence of the judges. He played sitting down even, and always wrapped in his cloak. His partner did nothing but bring him the balls, which he hit with really marvellous dexterity. From that moment public sympathy, so potent a factor on such occasions, was on Martin's side,--that is to say, as very seldom happens, on the side of right. One more curious fact put the finishing touch to Arnauld du Thill's chances with the judges. The two accused men were of precisely the same height; but Gabriel, always on the watch for the least sign, thought that he had discovered that his brave squire's foot, his only foot, alas! was much smaller than Arnauld du Thill's. The old cobbler of Artigues appeared before the court with his old and new measurements. "Yes," said the old fellow, "it is certain that Martin-Guerre used to wear nines, and I was greatly surprised when he returned to find that he wore twelves; but I took it to be the effect of his long journeys." The true Martin-Guerre then proudly held out to the cobbler the only foot which Providence had left him, to aid doubtless in the grander triumph of the truth. The simple-minded old man, having taken its measure, recognized it, and declared it to be the identical foot he had shod in former days, and which had remained almost the same in spite of its long travels and the double service it had had to do. After that decisive testimony everybody was unanimous for Martin's innocence and the guilt of Arnauld du Thill. But these material proofs were not enough, and Gabriel desired to adduce moral certainty in addition. He produced the peasant to whom Arnauld du Thill had intrusted the strange commission to announce Martin-Guerre's death by hanging at Noyon. The good man ingenuously told of his amazement at finding in the Rue des Jardins St. Paul the very man whom he had seen take the Lyons road. This was the circumstance which had aroused Gabriel's first suspicion of the real truth. Then Bertrande de Rolles was examined anew. Poor Bertrande, in spite of the general change of opinion, was still for him who aroused her fear. Being asked if she had not noticed a change in her husband's disposition since his return, she replied,-- "Oh, yes, indeed! he came back much changed; but for the better, Messieurs," she hastened to add.