Martin　Guerre
  by　　Alexandre　Dumas；　Pere
  We　are　sometimes　astonished　at　the　striking　resemblance　existing
  between　two　persons　who　are　absolute　strangers　to　each　other；　but　in
  fact　it　is　the　opposite　which　ought　to　surprise　us。　　Indeed；　why
  should　we　not　rather　admire　a　Creative　Power　so　infinite　in　its
  variety　that　it　never　ceases　to　produce　entirely　different
  combinations　with　precisely　the　same　elements？　　The　more　one
  considers　this　prodigious　versatility　of　form；　the　more　overwhelming
  it　appears。
  To　begin　with；　each　nation　has　its　own　distinct　and　characteristic
  type；　separating　it　from　other　races　of　men。　　Thus　there　are　the
  English；　Spanish；　German；　or　Slavonic　types；　again；　in　each　nation　we
  find　families　distinguished　from　each　other　by　less　general　but　still
  well…pronounced　features；　and　lastly；　the　individuals　of　each　family；
  differing　again　in　more　or　less　marked　gradations。　　What　a　multitude
  of　physiognomies！　　What　variety　of　impression　from　the　innumerable
  stamps　of　the　human　countenance！　　What　millions　of　models　and　no
  copies！　　Considering　this　ever　changing　spectacle；　which　ought　to
  inspire　us　with　most　astonishmentthe　perpetual　difference　of　faces
  or　the　accidental　resemblance　of　a　few　individuals？　　Is　it　impossible
  that　in　the　whole　wide　world　there　should　be　found　by　chance　two
  people　whose　features　are　cast　in　one　and　the　same　mould？　　Certainly
  not；　therefore　that　which　ought　to　surprise　us　is　not　that　these
  duplicates　exist　here　and　there　upon　the　earth；　but　that　they　are　to
  be　met　with　in　the　same　place；　and　appear　together　before　our　eyes；
  little　accustomed　to　see　such　resemblances。　　From　Amphitryon　down　to
  our　own　days；　many　fables　have　owed　their　origin　to　this　fact；　and
  history　also　has　provided　a　few　examples；　such　as　the　false　Demetrius
  in　Russia；　the　English　Perkin　Warbeck；　and　several　other　celebrated
  impostors；　whilst　the　story　we　now　present　to　our　readers　is　no　less
  curious　and　strange。
  On　the　10th　of；　August　1557；　an　inauspicious　day　in　the　history　of
  France；　the　roar　of　cannon　was　still　heard　at　six　in　the　evening　in
  the　plains　of　St。　Quentin；　where　the　French　army　had　just　been
  destroyed　by　the　united　troops　of　England　and　Spain；　commanded　by　the
  famous　Captain　Emanuel　Philibert；　Duke　of　Savoy。　　An　utterly　beaten
  infantry；　the　Constable　Montmorency　and　several　generals　taken
  prisoner；　the　Duke　d'Enghien　mortally　wounded；　the　flower　of　the
  nobility　cut　down　like　grass；such　were　the　terrible　results　of　a
  battle　which　plunged　France　into　mourning；　and　which　would　have　been
  a　blot　on　the　reign　of　Henry　II；　had　not　the　Duke　of　Guise　obtained　a
  brilliant　revenge　the　following　year。
  In　a　little　village　less　than　a　mile　from　the　field　of　battle　were　to
  be　heard　the　groans　of　the　wounded　and　dying；　who　had　been　carried
  thither　from　the　field　of　battle。　　The　inhabitants　had　given　up　their
  houses　to　be　used　as　hospitals；　and　two　or　three　barber　surgeons　went
  hither　and　thither；　hastily　ordering　operations　which　they　left　to
  their　assistants；　and　driving　out　fugitives　who　had　contrived　to
  accompany　the　wounded　under　pretence　of　assisting　friends　or　near
  relations。　　They　had　already　expelled　a　good　number　of　these　poor
  fellows；　when；　opening　the　door　of　a　small　room；　they　found　a　soldier
  soaked　in　blood　lying　on　a　rough　mat；　and　another　soldier　apparently
  attending　on　him　with　the　utmost　care。
  〃Who　are　you？〃　said　one　of　the　surgeons　to　the　sufferer。　　〃I　don't
  think　you　belong　to　our　French　troops。〃
  〃Help！〃　cried　the　soldier；　〃only　help　me！　and　may　God　bless　you　for
  it！〃
  〃From　the　colour　of　that　tunic；〃　remarked　the　other　surgeon；　〃I
  should　wager　the　rascal　belongs　to　some　Spanish　gentleman。　　By　what
  blunder　was　he　brought　here？〃
  〃For　pity's　sake！　murmured　the　poor　fellow；　〃I　am　in　such　pain。〃
  〃Die；　wretch！〃　responded　the　last　speaker；　pushing　him　with　his　foot。
  〃Die；　like　the　dog　you　are！〃
  But　this　brutality；　answered　as　it　was　by　an　agonised　groan；
  disgusted　the　other　surgeon。
  〃After　all；　he　is　a　man；　and　a　wounded　man　who　implores　help。　　Leave
  him　to　me；　Rene。〃
  Rene　went　out　grumbling；　and　the　one　who　remained　proceeded　to
  examine　the　wound。　　A　terrible　arquebus…shot　had　passed　through　the
  leg；　shattering　the　bone：　amputation　was　absolutely　necessary。
  Before　proceeding　to　the　operation；　the　surgeon　turned　to　the　other
  soldier；　who　had　retired　into　the　darkest　corner　of　the　room。
  〃And　you；　who　may　you　be？〃　he　asked。
  The　man　replied　by　coming　forward　into　the　light：　no　other　answer　was
  needed。　　He　resembled　his　companion　so　closely　that　no　one　could
  doubt　they　were　brothers…twin　brothers；　probably。　　Both　were　above
  middle　height；　both　had　olive…brown　complexions；　black　eyes；　hooked
  noses；　pointed　chins；　a　slightly　projecting　lower　lip；　both　were
  round…shouldered；　though　this　defect　did　not　amount　to　disfigurement：
  the　whole　personality　suggested　strength；　and　was　not　destitute　of
  masculine　beauty。　　So　strong　a　likeness　is　hardly　ever　seen；　even
  their　ages　appeared　to　agree；　for　one　would　not　have　supposed　either
  to　be　more　than　thirty…two；　and　the　only　difference　noticeable；
  besides　the　pale　countenance　of　the　wounded　man；　was　that　he　was　thin
  as　compared　with　the　moderate　fleshiness　of　the　other；　also　that　he
  had　a　large　scar　over　the　right　eyebrow。
  〃Look　well　after　your　brother's　soul；〃　said　the　surgeon　to　the
  soldier；　who　remained　standing；　〃if　it　is　in　no　better　case　than　his
  body；　it　is　much　to　be　pitied。〃
  〃Is　there　no　hope？〃　inquired　the　Sosia　of　the　wounded　man。
  〃The　wound　is　too　large　and　too　deep；〃　replied　the　man　of　science；
  〃to　be　cauterised　with　boiling　oil；　according　to　the　ancient　method。
  'Delenda　est　causa　mali；'　the　source　of　evil　must　be　destroyed；　as
  says　the　learned　Ambrose　Pare；　I　ought　therefore　'secareferro；'that
  is　to　say；　take　off　the　leg。　　May　God　grant　that　he　survive　the
  operation！〃
  While　seeking　his　instruments；　he　looked　the　supposed　brother　full　in
  the　face；　and　added
  〃But　how　is　it　that　you　are　carrying　muskets　in　opposing　armies；　for
  I　see　that　you　belong　to　us；　while　this　poor　fellow　wears　Spanish
  uniform？〃
  〃Oh；　that　would　be　a　long　story　to　tell；〃　replied　the　soldier；
  shaking　his　head。　　〃As　for　me；　I　followed　the　career　which　was　open
  to　me；　and　took　service　of　my　own　free　will　under　the　banner　of　our
  lord　king；　Henry　II。　　This　man；　whom　you　rightly　suppose　to　be　my
  brother；　was　born　in　Biscay；　and　became　attached　to　the　household　of
  the　Cardinal　of　Burgos；　and　afterwards　to　the　cardinal's　brother；
  whom　he　was　obliged　to　follow　to　the　war。　　I　recognised　him　on　the
  battle…field　just　as　he　fell；　I　dragged　him　out　of　a　heap　of　dead；
  and　brought　him　here。〃
  During　his　recital　this　individual's　features　betrayed　considerable
  agitation；　but　the　surgeon　did　not　heed　it。　　Not　finding　some
  necessary　instruments；　〃My　colleague；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃must　have
  carried　them　off。　　He　constantly　does　this；　out　of　jealousy　of　my
  reputation；　but　I　will　be　even　with　him　yet！　　Such　splendid
  instruments！　　They　will　almost　work　of　themselves；　and　are　capable　of
  imparting　some　skill　even　to　him；　dunce　as　he　is！。。。　　I　shall　be　back
  in　an　hour　or　two；　he　must　rest；　sleep；　have　nothing　to　excite　him；
  nothing　to　inflame　the　wound；　and　when　the　operation　is　well　over；　we
  shall　see！　　May　the　Lord　be　gracious　to　him！〃
  Then　he　went　to　the　door；　leaving　the　poor　wretch　to　the　care　of　his
  supposed　brother。
  〃My　God！〃　he　added；　shaking　his　head；　〃if　he　survive；　it　will　be　by
  the　help　of　a　miracle。〃
  Scarcely　had　he　left　the　room；　when　the　unwounded　soldier　carefully
  examined　the　features　of　the　wounded　one。
  〃Yes；〃　he　murmured　between　his　teeth；　〃they　were　right　in　saying　that
  my　exact　double　was　to　be　found　in　the　hostile　army　。　　。　　。　　。　　Truly
  one　would　not　know　us　apart！　　。　　。　　。　　I　might　be　surveying　myself　in
  a　mirror。　　I　did　well　to　look　for　him　in　the　rear　of　the　Spanish
  army；　and；　thanks　to　the　fellow　who　rolled　him　over　so　conveniently
  with　that　arquebus…shot；　I　was　able　to　escape　the　dangers　of　the
  melee　by　carrying　him　out　of　it。〃
  〃But　that's　not　all；〃　he　thought；　still　carefully　studying　the
  tortured　face　of　the　unhappy　sufferer；　〃it　is　not　enough　to　have　got
  out　of　that。　　I　have　absolutely　nothing　in　the　world；　no　home；　no
  resources。　　Beggar　by　birth；　adventurer　by　fortune；　I　have　enlisted；
  and　have　consumed　my　pay；　I　hoped　for　plunder；　and　here　we　are　in
  full　flight！　　What　am　I　to　do？　　Go　and　drown　myself？　　No；　certainly
  a　cannon…ball　would　be　as　good　as　that。　　But　can't　I　profit　by　this
  chance；　and　obtain　a　decent　position　by　turning　to　my　own　advantage
  this　curious　resemblance；　and　making　some　use　of　this　man　whom　Fate
  has　thrown　in　my　way；　and　who　has　but　a　short　time　to　live？〃
  Arguing　thus；　he　bent　over　the　prostrate　man　with　a　cynical　laugh：
  one　mig