"What! Martin-Guerre! Why, I am Martin-Guerre."
"You? Impossible! How could you have told of your own hanging?" rejoined the peasant.
"But why, where, and when did I tell you of such an atrocity?" asked Martin.
"Must I tell you the precise facts now?" said the peasant.
"Yes, everything."
"Notwithstanding the fact that you made up a story for me to tell."
"Yes; never mind that now."
"Well, then, since your memory is so short, I will tell you everything. So much the worse for you if you force me to do it! Six days ago, in the morning, I was at work hoeing my field—"
"Before you go any further, where is your field?" asked Martin.
"Do you want me to tell you the real truth, Master?" said the peasant.