His native air, the sight of the locality in which his youth had been passed, the affection of his kinsfolk and his old friends, and, above all, the loving attentions of Bertrande, in a very few days banished from Martin's face every trace of unhappiness. One evening in this same month of July he was seated under the vine at his door, after a peaceful, happy day. His wife was within, busy with her housekeeping cares, but Martin could hear her coming and going, so that he was not alone; and he looked off to the right at the sun, which was just setting in all his glory, giving promise for the morrow of as beautiful a day as that which had just passed. Martin did not see a horseman who rode up on his left, and dismounting, approached him noiselessly. He stood a moment observing with a grave smile Martin's attitude of dreamy and peaceful contemplation. Then he reached out his hand, and without a word touched him on the shoulder. Martin-Guerre quickly turned, and rose with his hand to his cap. "What! You, Monseigneur!" he said, with much emotion. "Pardon me, I did not see you coming." "Don't apologize, my good Martin," replied Gabriel (for it was he); "I did not come to disturb your peace of mind, but on the other hand to assure myself of it." "Oh, Monseigneur has only to look at me, then!" said Martin. "That's what I was doing, Martin," observed Gabriel. "So you are happy, are you?" "Happier, Monseigneur, than the birds of the air or the fish in the sea." "That is easily explained," returned Gabriel, "for you have found rest and plenty in your own home." "Yes," said Martin-Guerre, "without doubt that is one of the reasons of my contentment. It may be that I have travelled sufficiently, seen enough battles, watched and fasted and suffered in a hundred ways sufficiently, to have earned the right, Monseigneur, to take pleasure in refreshing myself with a few days' rest. As for the plenty," he continued, in more serious fashion, "I have found the house well supplied,--too well supplied, in fact. The money does not belong to me, and I don't want to touch it. Arnauld du Thill brought it here, and I propose to restore it to its rightful owners. Much the greater part of it belongs to you, Monseigneur, for it was the money intended for your ransom which he stole. That sum is put aside all ready to be handed to you. As for the balance, it makes little difference how or where Arnauld obtained it; the gold would soil my fingers. Master Carbon Barreau thinks as I do, honest man, and having enough to live on, he declines to accept the unworthy heritage of his nephew. When the expenses of the trial are paid, the rest will go to the poor of the province." "But in that case your property will not amount to much, my poor Martin," said Gabriel.