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."