The Two Dianas, Volume 2 (of 3)

In Short

Set during the Italian War of 1551–1559 and the French Wars of Religion, this historical romance follows Gabriel, Vicomte de Montgommery, as he navigates court intrigue, perilous military maneuvers, and deeply personal family secrets. Driven to free his imprisoned father and rescue his beloved Diane de Castro, Gabriel orchestrates the daring French capture of English-held Calais. Meanwhile, a bizarre plot of stolen identities unfolds as the honest squire Martin-Guerre is ruthlessly impersonated by the cunning scoundrel Arnauld du Thill. Blending romance, military history, and criminal deceit, the novel captures the turbulent end of Henri II's reign.

The Story

The narrative opens amidst the lingering fallout of military conflict and personal deception. In Calais, the honest burgher Jean Peuquoy and his armorer cousin Pierre navigate the English occupation while harboring deep personal grievances. Their young relative Babette has been seduced and abandoned by a man claiming to be Martin-Guerre, squire to the noble Gabriel, Vicomte de Montgommery. However, the real Martin-Guerre is himself a victim of extraordinary circumstances: he has been robbed, left for dead, and repeatedly hanged by his treacherous lookalike, Arnauld du Thill. While the real Martin-Guerre slowly makes his way back to Paris after enduring horrific trials, Arnauld uses Martin's stolen identity, papers, and wedding ring to commit further crimes and manipulate both noblemen and local townsfolk.

Concurrently, Gabriel de Montgommery faces immense political and emotional pressure. His beloved Diane de Castro, King Henri II's illegitimate daughter, is held captive in Calais by the English governor, Lord Wentworth, who harbors an unrequited, obsessive passion for her. Gabriel is equally driven by a solemn filial duty: discovering the truth behind his father's mysterious imprisonment. Seeking aid, Gabriel aligns himself with the Protestant leaders, including Admiral Coligny and Théodore de Bèze, while maintaining his position as a soldier of France.

Gabriel conceives an audacious, seemingly impossible military scheme: recapturing Calais from the English. Presenting his bold plan to François de Lorraine, the formidable Duc de Guise (known as Le Balafré), Gabriel gains the duke's support. With the internal assistance of Jean and Pierre Peuquoy, who organize the local populace, Gabriel infiltrates the city's defenses. The French forces execute a brilliant bombardment and surprise assault on the Risbank fort. Gabriel successfully liberates Diane de Castro from Lord Wentworth's grasp, and Calais is restored to the French crown after two centuries of English rule.

Following the victory, Gabriel travels to Paris to present the captured enemy banners and the Duc de Guise's letters to King Henri II, hoping his valor will win the king's mercy regarding his father and Diane. However, royal gratitude proves fickle. While Diane attempts to mediate, Gabriel discovers the dark extent of court corruption and political duplicity. Disillusioned, he draws closer to the Protestant cause after soul-searching conversations with the surgeon-philosopher Ambroise Paré.

The central narrative threads draw together in a courtroom showdown. Arnauld du Thill's trail of fraud, theft, and seduction finally catches up with him. Confronted by the real Martin-Guerre, the Peuquoys, and Gabriel, Arnauld uses his formidable cunning to confuse the judges and evade justice, leveraging false documents and bluster. Yet Gabriel steps forward to deliver decisive evidence that unmasks the impostor. Arnauld is sentenced to hang at Noyon, clearing Martin-Guerre's name. Though Babette suffers the tragic loss of her newborn child, she finds solace in the quiet forgiveness of her husband Jean, while Gabriel prepares to face the remaining trials of his family's destiny.

How It Unfolds

A tangled web of deceit Arnauld du Thill plies the unsuspecting squire Martin-Guerre with potent Cyprus wine, extracting his life story before robbing him and leaving him to face false execution.

The governor's captive Lord Wentworth holds Madame Diane de Castro prisoner in Calais, defying royal demands for her ransom while fruitlessly attempting to win her disdainful heart.

A pact with the reformers Gabriel meets with Protestant leaders Coligny and Théodore de Bèze, pledging his sword to their cause as a common soldier to ensure his motives remain pure.

The grand strategy Gabriel proposes a daring, highly dangerous plan to the Duc de Guise to recapture Calais from the English by taking the city's coastal fortifications by surprise.

Seduction exposed Pierre and Jean Peuquoy learn that the man who ruined Babette's honor was an impostor, prompting them to pledge their arms to Gabriel's assault on Calais.

The fall of Calais French forces bombard the city while Gabriel and the Peuquoy cousins secure the Risbank fort, forcing the English garrison to surrender and rescuing Diane de Castro.

Triumphant return Gabriel delivers the conquered English flags and news of victory to King Henri II, though royal gratitude is quickly overshadowed by sinister court politics.

Unmasking the rogue In a packed courtroom, the villainous Arnauld du Thill nearly convinces the judges of his innocence until Gabriel and Martin-Guerre expose his fraudulent past, sending him to the gallows.

The People

• Gabriel, Vicomte de Montgommery: A brave, scrupulous nobleman driven by romantic devotion to Diane de Castro and an overriding filial obligation to free his father. He grows from an impulsive soldier into a reflective, politically conscious commander allied with the Protestant cause.
• Diane de Castro: The illegitimate daughter of King Henri II, held captive in Calais. Dignified, faithful, and morally unyielding, she resists Lord Wentworth's advances and relies on her faith and her deep love for Gabriel to survive her captivity.
• Martin-Guerre: Gabriel's loyal, long-suffering squire. Honest but gullible, he suffers endless tribulations—including robbery, starvation, and attempted hanging—at the hands of his criminal double before regaining his name and status.
• Arnauld du Thill: A ruthless, highly intelligent villain and impostor. He uses his uncanny physical resemblance to Martin-Guerre to steal identities, commit fraud, ruin reputations, and manipulate the judicial system through sheer audacity.
• Jean Peuquoy: A shrewd, patient weaver from Calais whose outwardly careless disposition hides a fiercely patriotic operative. He stands by his cousin Pierre and generously forgives his wife Babette following her tragedy.
• Pierre Peuquoy: A skilled armorer whose fierce sense of family honor and hot temper initially lead him to seek vengeance, though his fundamental loyalty makes him a vital asset in the retaking of Calais.
• François de Lorraine, Duc de Guise: The ambitious French military leader known as "Le Balafré." Courageous and receptive to bold strategy, he risks everything on Gabriel's plan to reclaim Calais for France.

In Its Own Voice

"Do you mock me, scoundrel?" said Gabriel. "Oh, Monseigneur knows my profound respect for him! But, strangely enough, this double of mine has caused me a vast deal of trouble, has he not?"

Upon returning from his near-fatal ordeal, Martin-Guerre dryly discusses the rogue who has stolen his identity with his master.

"In two words, Monseigneur, take Calais," said Gabriel, calmly. "Take Calais!" almost shouted the Duc de Guise, falling back in surprise.

Gabriel lays out his audacious military scheme to the astonished French commander in chief.

"Stains upon the soul only are indelible; those upon the hand may be washed away. I will be your hand,--that's all."

Facing the scrupulous leaders of the Protestant Reformation, Gabriel offers his sword and strength to their cause.

What It's Really About

Beneath its cloak-and-dagger adventure, the book explores the precarious nature of personal identity and the fragility of justice in a corrupt world. Through the dual storylines of Martin-Guerre's stolen life and Gabriel's struggle against court intrigue, the narrative asks whether a person's true character is defined by official status or by moral action. The story contrasts the cynical opportunism of political figures like Henri II and the fraudster Arnauld du Thill with the quiet integrity of ordinary citizens like the Peuquoys and the selfless idealism of Gabriel. It ultimately argues that true loyalty and honor require personal sacrifice rather than superficial allegiance to crown or church.

Why Read It Today

Fans of traditional nineteenth-century swashbucklers—such as the works of Alexandre Dumas—will find themselves thoroughly at home in this mid-century French historical romance. The narrative balances high-stakes military history with deeply personal drama, moving fluidly from secret political meetings in Paris to the mud and gunpowder of the siege of Calais. Its unique integration of the famous historical mystery of Martin-Guerre gives the plot a compelling, almost modern true-crime intrigue alongside its chivalrous action.

The reading experience is fast-paced and melodramatic, filled with noble declarations, miraculous coincidences, and sharp-witted dialogue. Readers should be prepared for period conventions, including formal theatrical speech, explicit courtly romanticism, and occasional long-winded explanations of sixteenth-century military logistics and legal arguments. Yet these historical details give the narrative its grounded texture. The novel's enduring appeal lies in its vivid characterizations and the gratifying triumph of steadfast honesty over deceit and royal hypocrisy.