Sanxi was present, summoned as a witness, and testified to the truth of the fact.
Gabriel approached him, and whispered a word in his ear.
Sanxi laughed, and began to address Arnauld in the Basque tongue. Arnauld turned pale, and said not a word.
"What!" said Gabriel, "you passed four years at St. Sébastien, and yet do not understand the dialect of the province?"
"I have forgotten it," stammered Arnauld.
Martin-Guerre, when submitted to this test in his turn, chattered away in Basque for a quarter of an hour, to the great delight of Cousin Sanxi and the edification of the spectators and judges.
This first indication to throw light upon the truth was soon followed by another, which although similar to an experience of Ulysses was no less significant.
The inhabitants of Artigues who were contemporaries of Martin-Guerre still remembered with admiration not unmixed with envy his skill at tennis; but since his return the false Martin had always declined to play when it was suggested, on the plea of a wound in his right hand.
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.