But in unravelling this unprecedented and extraordinary freak of Nature, the most reliable guides for Gabriel and the judges, failing material differences, would be contradictions in matters of fact and divergent characteristics.
In the story of their early years, Martin and Arnauld du Thill, each in his turn, told exactly the same facts, remembered the same dates, and mentioned the same names, with remarkable unanimity.
In support of his statements, Arnauld produced Bertrande's letters, the family papers, and the ring which was blessed on his wedding day.
But Martin explained it by telling how Arnauld, after having given him up to be hung at Noyon, had had an opportunity to steal all the papers and his wedding-ring.
Thus nothing removed the perplexity of the judges, and their uncertainty never grew less. The appearances and indications were as strong and convincing on one side as on the other; and the allegations of the two accused seemed equally sincere.
Fresh proofs and additional testimony were needed to untie so complicated a knot. Gabriel undertook to find and produce them.
In the first place, the presiding judge propounded this question anew to Martin and to Arnauld du Thill, separately as before.
"Where did you pass your time between your twelfth and your sixteenth year?"
The immediate answer of each of the accused was,—
"At St. Sébastien, in Biscaye, with my cousin Sanxi."