"What—what did he tell you? Go on!" cried Pierre.
"Alas! that Martin-Guerre was already married!" said Babette.
"Miserable wretch!" ejaculated Pierre Peuquoy, beside himself, and springing at his sister with uplifted hand.
"Ah! it is true, then!" said the poor child, in a faint voice; "I feel now that it is true."
She fell fainting upon the floor.
Jean had had time to seize Pierre around the waist and hold him back.
"What are you doing, Pierre?" said he, sternly. "It is not the unfortunate victim that you should strike, but the villain who caused her ruin."
"You are right," Pierre responded, already ashamed of his blind rage.
He stepped apart, stern and gloomy, while Jean, leaning over Babette, tried to resuscitate her. There was a long silence.
At last Babette opened her eyes, and seemed to be trying to remember.