第8章

"ButImeanJeanCavalier,theCamisardgeneral,hewhohasassumedthetitleofDukeoftheCevennes。"

"Ihavenotassumedthattitle,monseigneur,onlysomepeoplecallmesoinjoke:thekingalonehastherighttoconfertitles,andI

rejoiceexceedingly,monseigneur,thathehasgivenyouthatofgovernorofLanguedoc。"

"Whenyouarespeakingoftheking,whydoyounotsay\'HisMajesty\'？"saidM。deBaville。"Uponmysoul,thekingistoogoodtotreatthuswitharebel。"

ThebloodrushedtoCavalier\'shead,hisfaceflamed,andafteramoment\'spause,fixinghiseyeboldlyuponM。deBaville,andspeakinginavoicewhichwasnowasfirmasithadbeentremulousamomentbefore,hesaid,"Ifyouhaveonlybroughtmehere,sir,tospeaktomeinsuchamanner,youmightbetterhaveleftmeinmymountains,andcomethereyourselftotakealessoninhospitality。

IfIamarebel,itisnotIwhoamanswerable,foritwasthetyrannyandcrueltyofM。deBavillewhichforcedustohaverecoursetoarms;andifhistorytakesexceptiontoanythingconnectedwiththegreatmonarchforwhosepardonIsueto—day,itwillbe,Ihope,notthathehadfoeslikeme,butfriendslikehim。"

M。deBavillegrewpalewithanger;forwhetherCavalierknewtowhomhewasspeakingornot,hiswordshadtheeffectofaviolentblowfullinhisface;butbeforehecouldreplyM。deVillarsinterposed。

"Yourbusinessisonlywithme,sir,"hesaid;"attendtomealone,Ibeg:Ispeakinthenameoftheking;andtheking,ofhisclemency,wishestosparehissubjectsbytreatingthemwithtenderness。"

Cavalieropenedhismouthtoreply,buttheintendantcuthimshort。

"Ishouldhopethatthatsuffices,"hesaidcontemptuously:"aspardonismorethanyoucouldhavehopedfor,Isupposeyouarenotgoingtoinsistontheotherconditionsyoulaiddown？"

"Butitispreciselythoseotherconditions,"saidCavalier,addressinghimselftoM。deVillars,andnotseemingtoseethatanyoneelsewaspresent,"forwhichwehavefought。IfIwerealone,sir,Ishouldgivemyselfup,boundhandandfoot,withentireconfidenceinyourgoodfaith,demandingnoassurancesandexactingnoconditions;butIstandheretodefendtheinterestsofmybrethrenandfriendswhotrustme;andwhatismore,thingshavegonesofarthatwemusteitherdieweaponinhand,orobtainourrights。"

Theintendantwasabouttospeak,butthemarechalstoppedhimwithsuchanimperativegesturethathesteppedbackasiftoshowthathewashedhishandsofthewholematter。

"Whatarethoserights？AretheythosewhichM。Lalandehastransmittedtomebywordofmouth？"

"Yes,sir。"

"Itwouldbewelltocommitthemtowriting。"

"Ihavedoneso,monseigneur,andsentacopytoM。d\'Aygaliers。"

"Ihavenotseenit,sir;makemeanothercopyandplaceitinmyhands,Ibeg。"

"Ishallgoandsetaboutitdirectly,monseigneur,"steppingbackasifabouttowithdraw。

"Onemoment！"saidthemarechal,detaininghimbyasmile。"Isittruethatyouarewillingtoentertheking\'sarmy？"

"Iammorethanwilling,Idesireitwithallmyheart,"exclaimedCavalier,withthefrankenthusiasmnaturaltohisage,"butIcannotdosotillourjustdemandsaregranted。"

"Butiftheyweregranted——？"

"Then,sir,"repliedCavalier,"thekinghasneverhadmoreloyalsubjectsthanweshallbe。"

"Well,havealittlepatienceandeverythingwillbearranged,I

hope。"

"MayGodgrantit！"saidCavalier。"Heismywitnessthatwedesirepeacebeyondeverything。"Andhetookanotherstepbackwards。

"Youwillnotgotoofaraway,Ihope,"saidthemarechal。

"Weshallremainwhereveryourexcellencymayappoint,"saidCavalier。

Verywell,"continuedM。deVillars;"haltatCalvisson,andtryallyoucantoinducetheotherleaderstofollowyourexample。"

"Ishalldomybest,monseigneur;butwhileweawaitHisMajesty\'sreplyshallwebeallowedtofulfilourreligiousdutiesunimpeded？"

"Yes,Ishallgiveordersthatyouaretohavefulllibertyinthatrespect。"

"Thanks,monseigneur。"

Cavalierbowedoncemore,andwasabouttogo;butM。deVillarsaccompaniedhimandLalande,whohadnowjoinedthem,andwhostoodwithhishandonCavalier\'sshoulder,afewstepsfarther。Catinatseeingthattheconferencewasatanend,enteredthegardenwithhismen。ThereuponM。deVillarstookleave,sayingdistinctly,"Adieu,SeigneurCavalier,"andwithdrew,leavingtheyoungchiefsurroundedbyadozenpersonsallwantingtospeaktohimatonce。Forhalfanhourhewasdetainedbyquestions,toallofwhichherepliedpleasantly。OnonefingerwasanemeraldtakenfromanavalofficernamedDidier,whomhehadkilledwithhisownhandintheactionatDevoisdeMartignargues;hekepttimebyasuperbwatchwhichhadbelongedtoM。d\'Acqueville,thesecondincommandofthemarines;

andheofferedhisquestionersfromtimetotimeperfumedsnufffromamagnificentsnuffbox,whichhehadfoundintheholsterswhenhetookpossessionofM。deLaJonquiere\'shorse。Hetoldeveryonewhowishedtolistenthathehadneverintendedtorevoltagainsttheking;andthathewasnowreadytoshedthelastdropofhisbloodinhisservice;thathehadseveraltimesofferedtosurrenderonconditionthatlibertyofconsciencewasgrantedtothoseofthenewfaith,butthatM。deMontrevelhadalwaysrejectedhisoffers,sothathehadbeenobligedtoremainunderarms,inordertodeliverthosewhowereinprison,andtogainpermissionforthosewhowerefreetoworshipGodintheirownway。

Hesaidthesethingsinanunembarrassedandgracefulmanner,hatinhand;thenpassingthroughthecrowdwhichhadgatheredoutsidethegardenoftheRecollets,herepairedtotheHoteldelaPosteforlunch,andafterwardswalkedalongtheEsplanadetothehouseofoneGuyBillard,agardener,whowashisheadprophet\'sfather。AshethusmovedabouthewasprecededbytwoCamisardswithdrawnswords,whomadewayforhim;andseveralladieswerepresentedtohimwhowerehappytotouchhisdoublet。Thevisitover,heonceagainpassedalongtheEsplanade,stillprecededbyhistwoCamisards,andjustashepassedtheLittleConventheandthosewithhimstruckupapsalmtune,andcontinuedsingingtilltheyreachedSaint—Cesaire,wherethehostageswere。Theseheatoncesentback。

FivehundredpersonsfromNimeswereawaitinghim;refreshmentswereofferedtohim,whichheacceptedgratefully,thankingallthosewhohadgatheredtogethertomeethim。AtlasthewentofftoSt。

Denoise,wherehewastosupandsleep;butbeforegoingtobedheofferedupsupplicationsinaloudvoicefortheking,forM。deVillars,forM。deLalande,andevenforM。deBaville。

Thenextmorning,Cavalier,accordingtopromise,sentacopyofhisdemandstoM。deVillars,whocausedittobelaidbeforetheking,alongwithafullreportofallthathadpassedattheinterviewatNimes。Assoonastheyoungchiefhadsentoffhismissive,herejoinedhistroopsatTarnac,andrelatedallthathadpassedtoRoland,urginghimtofollowhisexample。ThatnighthesleptatSauves,havingpassedthroughDurfortattheheadofhismen;acaptainofdragoonsnamedMontgros,withtwenty—fivesoldiers,accompanyinghimeverywhere,byM。deVillars\'orders,andseeingthatthevillagesthroughwhichtheypassedfurnishedhimwithallthatwasneeded。TheyleftSauvesonMay16thveryearlyinthemorning,inordertogettoCalvisson,which,asourreadersmayremember,wastheplaceappointedfortheresidenceofCavalierduringthetruce。InpassingthroughQuissac,wheretheystoppedforrefreshments,theywerejoinedbyCastanetwhodeliveredalongsermon,atwhichalltheProtestantsoftheneighbourhoodwerepresent。

ThetwobattalionsoftheCharolaisregimentwhichwerequarteredatCalvissonhadreceivedordersontheeveningofthe17thtomarchoutnextmorning,soastomakeroomfortheCamisards。

Onthe18ththeheadofthecommissarydepartment,Vincel,orderedsuitableaccommodationtobeprovidedforCavalierandhistroops;

themusterrollbeinginthehandsofM。d\'Aygaliers,itwouldbesentbyhimorbroughtinthecourseoftheday。Inthemeantime,vanswerearrivingfilledwithallsortsofprovisions,followedbydrovesofcattle,whileacommissaryandseveralclerks,chargedwiththedistributionofrations,broughtuptherear。

Onthe19th,Catinat,accompaniedbytwelveCamisards,rodeintothetown,andwasmetatthebarrierbythecommandantandeightytownspeople。Assoonasthelittlebandcameinsightthecommandantreiteratedhisordersthatnothingshouldbesaidordoneinthetown,onpainofcorporalpunishment,thatcouldoffendtheCamisards。

Atoneo\'clockP。M。Barond\'Aygaliersarrived,followedinhisturnbythechiefofthecommissariat,Vincel,byCaptainCappon,twootherofficersnamedVialaandDespuech,andsixdragoons。ThesewerethehostagesCavalierhadgiven。

Atsixo\'clocktherewasheardagreatnoise;andshoutsof"Cavalier！Cavalier！"resoundedonallsides。TheyoungCevenolwasinsight,andthewholepopulationhastenedtomeethim。Herodeattheheadofhiscavalry,theinfantryfollowing,andthewholenumber——aboutsixhundredmen——sangpsalmsinaloudvoice。

Whentheyreachedthechurch,Cavalierdrewupbeforeitwithallhismeninrevieworder,andforsometimethesingingwenton。Whenitstopped,alongprayerwasofferedup,whichwasmostedifyingtoallthebystanders;andthisbeingover,Cavalierwenttothequartersassignedhim,whichwereinthebesthouseinCalvisson。Arrivedthere,hesentoutforadozenloavesthathemightjudgehowhismenweregoingtobefed;notfindingthemwhiteenough,hecomplainedtoM。Vincel,whomhesentfor,andwhopromisedthatinfuturethebreadshouldbeofabetterquality。Havingreceivedthisassurance,Cavaliergaveordersthattheloavesinhandshouldbedistributedforthatday,butprobablyfearingpoison,hefirstmadeM。deVincelandhisclerkstastetheminhispresence。Thesedutiesaccomplished,hevisitedinpersonallthegatesofthetown,placedguardsandpostedsentinelsatalltheentrancesandalongalltheavenues,themostadvancedbeingthree—quartersofaleaguefromthetown。Besidesthis,heplacedguardsinthestreets,andasentinelateachdoorofthehouseheoccupied;inaddition,thirtyguardsalwayssleptoutsidethedoorofhisbedroom,andtheseaccompaniedhimasanescortwhenhewentout;notthathewasafraid,forhewasnotofamistrustfulcharacter,butthathethoughtitpolitictogivepeopleanexaltedideaofhisimportance。Astohissoldiers,theywerebilletedontheinhabitants,andreceivedeachasdailyrationsapoundofmeat,aquartofwine,andtwoandahalfpoundsofbread。

Thesamedayaconvocationwasheldonthesiteoftheoldmeeting—housewhichhadbeendestroyedbytheCatholics。Itwasaverynumerousassembly,towhichcrowdsofpeoplecamefromallparts;butonthefollowingdaysitwasstillmorenumerous;for,asthenewsspread,peopleranwithgreateagernesstohearthepreachingofthewordofwhichtheyhadbeensolongdeprived。

D\'AygalierstellsusinhisMemoirsthat——"Noonecouldhelpbeingtouchedtoseeawholepeoplejustescapedfromfireandsword,comingtogetherinmultitudestomingletheirtearsandsighs。Sofamishedweretheyforthemannadivine,thattheywerelikepeoplecomingoutofabesiegedcity,afteralongandcruelfamine,towhompeacehasbroughtfoodinabundance,andwho,firstdevouringitwiththeireyes,thenthrowthemselvesonit,devouringitbodily——meat,bread,andfruit——asitcomestohand。SoitwaswiththeunfortunateinhabitantsofLaVannage,andevenofplacesmoredistantstill。TheysawtheirbrethrenassemblinginthemeadowsandatthegatesofCalvisson,gatheringincrowdsandpressingroundanyonewhostartedsingingapsalm,untilatlastfourorfivethousandpersons,singing,weeping,andpraying,weregatheredtogether,andremainedthereallday,supplicatingGodwithadevotionthatwenttoeveryheartandmadeadeepimpression。Allnightthesamethingswenton;nothingwastobeheardbutpreaching,singing,praying,andprophesying。"

ButifitwasatimeofjoyfortheProtestants,itwasatimeofhumiliationfortheCatholics。"Certainly,"saysacontemporaryhistorian,"itwasaverysurprisingthing,andquiteanovelty,toseeinaprovincelikeLanguedoc,wheresomanytroopswerequartered,suchalargenumberofvillains——allmurderers,incendiaries,andguiltyofsacrilege——gatheredtogetherinoneplacebypermissionofthoseincommandofthetroops;toleratedintheireccentricities,fedatthepublicexpense,flatteredbyeveryone,andcourteously,receivedbypeoplesentspeciallytomeetthem。"

OneofthosewhowasmostindignantatthisstateofthingswasM。deBaville。Hewassoeagertoputanendtoitthathewenttoseethegovernor,andtoldhimthescandalwasbecomingtoogreatinhisopinion:theassembliesoughttobeputanendtobyallowingthetroopstofalluponthemanddispersethem;butthegovernorthoughtquiteotherwise,andtoldBavillethattoactaccordingtohisadvicewouldbetosetfiretotheprovinceagainandtoscatterforeverpeoplewhomtheyhadgottogetherwithsuchdifficulty。Inanycase,heremindedBavillethatwhatheobjectedtowouldbeoverinafewdays。HisopinionwasthatdeBavillemightstifletheexpressionofhisdissatisfactionforalittle,tobringaboutagreatgood。"Morethanthat,"addedthemarechal,"theimpatienceofthepriestsismostridiculous。Besidesyourremonstrances,ofwhichIhopeIhavenowheardthelast,IhavereceivednumberlesslettersfullofsuchcomplaintsthatitwouldseemasiftheprayersoftheCamisardsnotonlygratedontheearsoftheclergybutflayedthemalive。I

shouldlikeaboveeverythingtofindoutthewritersoftheseletters,inordertohavethemflogged;buttheyhavetakengoodcaretoputnosignatures。Iregarditasaverygreatimpertinenceforthosewhocausedthesedisturbancestogrumbleandexpresstheirdisapprovalatmyeffortstobringthemtoanend。"Afterthisspeech,M,deBavillesawtherewasnothingforhimtodobuttoletthingstaketheircourse。

ThecoursethattheytookturnedCavalier\'sheadmoreandmore;forthankstotheinjunctionsofM。deVillars,alltheordersthatCavaliergavewereobeyedasiftheyhadbeenissuedbythegovernorhimself。Hehadacourtlikeaprince,lieutenantslikeageneral,andsecretarieslikeastatesman。ItwasthedutyofonesecretarytogiveleaveofabsencetothoseCamisardswhohadbusinesstoattendtoorwhodesiredtovisittheirrelations。Thefollowingisacopyoftheformusedforthesepassports:

"We,theundersigned,secretarytoBrotherCavalier,generalissimooftheHuguenots,permitbythisordergivenbyhimtoabsenthimselfonbusinessforthreedays。

"（SignedDUPONT。

"Calvisson,this————"

Andthesesafe—conductswereasmuchrespectedasiftheyhadbeensigned"MarechaldeVillars。"

Onthe22ndM。deSaint—Pierrearrivedfromthecourt,bringingthereplyofthekingtotheproposalswhichCavalierhadsubmittedtoM。deLalande。Whatthisreplywasdidnottranspire;probablyitwasnotinharmonywiththepacificintentionsofthemarechal。Atlast,onthe25th,theanswertothedemandswhichCavalierhadmadetoM。deVillarshimselfarrived。TheoriginalpaperwrittenbytheCamisardchiefhimselfhadbeensenttoLouisXIV,andhereturneditwithnotesinhisownwriting;thusthesetwohands,tooneofwhichbelongedtheshepherd\'scrookandtotheotherthesceptre,hadrestedonthesamesheetofpaper。ThefollowingisthetextoftheagreementasgivenbyCavalierinhisMemoirs:

"THEHUMBLEPETITIONOFTHEREFORMERSOF

LANGUEDOCTOTHEKING

"1。Thatitmaypleasethekingtograntuslibertyofconsciencethroughouttheprovince,andtopermitustoholdreligiousmeetingsineverysuitableplace,exceptfortifiedplacesandwalledcities。

\'Granted,onconditionthatnochurchesbebuilt。

"2。ThatallthoseinprisonoratthegalleyswhohavebeensenttheresincetherevocationoftheEdictofNantes,becauseoftheirreligion,besetatlibertywithinsixweeksfromthedateofthispetition。

\'Granted。

"3。Thatallthosewhohaveleftthekingdombecauseoftheirreligionbeallowedtoreturninfreedomandsafety,andthattheirgoodsandprivilegesberestoredtothem。

\'Grantedonconditionthattheytaketheoathoffidelitytotheking。

"4。ThattheParliamentofLanguedocbereestablishedonitsancientfooting,andwithallitsformerprivileges。

\'Thekingreservesdecisiononthispoint。

"5。ThattheprovinceofLanguedocbeexemptedfromthepolltaxfortenyears,thistoapply,toCatholicsandProtestantsalike,bothsideshavingequallysuffered。

\'Refused。

"6。ThatthecitiesofPerpignan,Montpellier,Cette,andAiguemortesbeassignedusascitiesofrefuge。

\'Refused。

"7。ThattheinhabitantsoftheCevenneswhosehouseswereburntorotherwisedestroyedduringthewarbeexemptfromtaxesforsevenyears。

\'Granted。

"8。ThatitmaypleaseHisMajestytopermitCavaliertochoose2000

men,bothfromamonghisowntroopsandfromamongthosewhomaybedeliveredfromtheprisonsandgalleys,toformaregimentofdragoonsfortheserviceofHisMajesty,andthatthisregimentwhenformedmayatoncebeorderedtoserveHisMajestyinPortugal。

\'Granted:andonconditionthatalltheHuguenotseverywherelaydowntheirarms,thekingwillpermitthemtolivequietlyinthefreeexerciseoftheirreligion。\'"

"IhadbeenaweekatCalvisson,"saysCavalierinhisMemoirs,"whenIreceivedaletterfromM。leMarechaldeVillarsorderingmetorepairtoNimes,ashewishedtoseeme,theanswertomydemands。

havingarrived。Iobeyedatonce,andwasverymuchdispleasedtofindthatseveralofmydemands,andinparticulartheonerelatingtothecitiesofrefuge,hadbeenrefused;butM。lemarechalassuredmethattheking\'swordwasbetterthantwentycitiesofrefuge,andthatafterallthetroublewehadgivenhimweshouldregarditasshowinggreatclemencyonhispartthathehadgrantedusthegreaterpartofwhatwehadasked。Thisreasoningwasnotentirelyconvincing,butastherewasnomoretimefordeliberation,andasI

wasasanxiousforpeaceasthekinghimself,Idecidedtoacceptgracefullywhatwasoffered。"

AllthefurtheradvantagethatCavaliercouldobtainfromM。deVillarswasthatthetreatyshouldbearthedateofthedayonwhichithadbeendrawnup;inthismannertheprisonerswhoweretobesetatlibertyinsixweeksgainedoneweek。

M。deVillarswroteatthebottomofthetreaty,whichwassignedthesamedaybyhimandM。deBavilleonthepartoftheking,andbyCavalierandDanielBillardonthepartoftheProtestants,thefollowingratification:

"Invirtueoftheplenarypowerswhichwehavereceivedfromtheking,wehavegrantedtotheReformersofLanguedocthearticlesabovemadeknown。

"MARECHALDEVILLARSJ。CAVALIER

"LAMOIGNONDEBAVILLEDANIELBILLARD

"GivenatNimes,the17thofMay1704"

Thesetwosignatures,allunworthyastheyweretostandbesidetheirown,gavesuchgreatdelighttoMM。deVillarsanddeBaville,thattheyatoncesentofffreshorderstoCalvissonthatthewantsoftheCamisardsshouldbeabundantlysupplieduntilthearticlesofthetreatywereexecuted——thatistosay,untiltheprisonersandthegalleyslavesweresetatliberty,which,accordingtoarticle2ofthetreaty,wouldbewithinthenextsixweeks。AstoCavalier,themarechalgavehimonthespotacommissionascolonel,withapensionof1200livresattached,andthepowerofnominatingthesubordinateofficersinhisregiment,andatthesametimehehandedhimacaptain\'scommissionforhisyoungbrother。

Cavalierdrewupthemuster—rolloftheregimentthesameday,andgaveittothemarechal。Itwastoconsistofsevenhundredandtwelvemen,formingfifteencompanies,withsixteencaptains,sixteenlieutenants,asergeant—major,andasurgeon—major。

Whileallthiswashappening,Roland,takingadvantageofthesuspensionofhostilities,wasridingupanddowntheprovinceasifhewereviceroyoftheCevennes,andwhereverheappearedhehadamagnificentreception。LikeCavalier,hegaveleaveofabsenceandfurnishedescorts,andheldhimselfhaughtily,surethathetoowouldsoonbenegotiatingtreatiesontermsofequalitywithmarshalsofFranceandgovernorsofprovinces。ButRolandwasmuchmistaken:M。

deVillarshadmadegreatconcessionstothepopularityofCavalier,buttheywerethelastheintendedtomake。So,insteadofbeinginhisturnsummonedtoNimes,orUzes,toconferwithM。deVillars,RolandmerelyreceivedanintimationfromCavalierthathedesiredtospeakwithhimonimportantbusiness。

TheymetnearAnduze,andCavalier,faithfultothepromisegiventoM。deVillars,neglectednoargumentthathecouldthinkoftoinduceRolandtofollowhisexample;butRolandwouldlistentonothing。

Then,whenCavaliersawthatargumentsandpromiseswereofnoavail,heraisedhisvoiceinanger;butRoland,layinghishandonhisshoulder,toldhimthathisheadwasturned,thatheshouldrememberthathe,Roland,washisseniorincommand,andthereforeboundbynothingthathadbeenpromisedinhisnamebyhisjunior,andthathehadregisteredavowinHeaventhatnothingwouldpersuadehimtomakepeaceunlesscompletelibertyofconscienceweregrantedtoall。

TheyoungCevenol,whowasunaccustomedtosuchlanguage,laidhishandonthehiltofhissword,Roland,steppingback,drewhis,andtheconsultationwouldhaveendedinadueliftheprophetshadnotthrownthemselvesbetweenthem,andsucceededingettingRolandtoconsenttooneoftheirnumber,amanmuchesteemedamongtheHuguenots,namedSalomon,goingbacktoNimeswithCavaliertolearnfromM。deVillars\'ownmouthwhattheexacttermswerewhichCavalierhadacceptedandnowofferedtoRoland。

InacoupleofhoursCavalierandSalomonsetouttogether,andarrivedatNimesonthe27thMay,escortedbytwenty—fivemen;theyhaltedatthetowerofMagne,andtheProtestantsofthecitycameouttomeetthem,bringingrefreshments;then,afterprayersandahastymeal,theyadvancedtothebarracksandcrossedthecourtyards。

TheconcourseofpeopleandtheenthusiasmwasnowhitlessthanonCavalier\'sfirstentry,morethanthreehundredpersonskissinghishandsandknees。Cavalierwasdressedonthisoccasioninadoubletofgreycloth,andabeaverhat,lacedwithgold,andadornedwithawhitefeather。

Cavalierandhistravelling—companionwentdirecttothegardenoftheRecollets,andhardlyhadtheygottherethanMM。deVillarsanddeBaville,accompaniedbyLalandeandSandricourt,cameouttomeetthem:theconferencelastedthreehours,butallthatcouldbelearnedoftheresultwasthatSalomonhaddeclaredthathisbrethrenwouldneverlaydowntheirarmstillfulllibertyofconsciencehadbeensecuredtothem。Inconsequenceofthisdeclaration,itwasdecidedthatCavalierandhisregimentshouldbedespatchedtoSpainwithoutdelay,inordertoweakentheCalvinistforcestothatextent;meantimeSalomonwassentbacktoRolandwithapositivepromisethatifhewouldsurrender,asCavalierhaddone,hewouldbegrantedthesameconditions——thatistosay,receiveacommissionascolonel,havetherighttonametheofficersofhisregiment,andreceiveapensionof1200livres。OnquittingthegardenoftheRecollets,Cavalierfoundasgreatacrowdaseverwaitingforhim,andsocloselydidtheypressonhimthattwoofhismenwereobligedtoridebeforehimwithdrawnsabrestoclearawayforhimtilltheMontpellierroadwasreached。HelaythatnightatLanglade,inordertorejoinhistroopsearlynextmorning。

Butduringhisabsencethingshadhappenedamongthesemen,whohadhithertoobeyedhimblindly,whichhelittleexpected。Hehadleft,asusual,Ravanelincommand;buthardlyhadheriddenawaywhenRavanelbegantotakeallkindsofprecautions,orderingthemennottolayasidetheirarms。ThenegotiationswithM。deVillarshadmadehimmostanxious;helookeduponallthepromisesgivenassnares,andheregardedthecompromisefavouredbyhischiefasadefectiononCavalier\'spart。Hethereforecalledalltheofficersandmentogether,toldthemofhisfears,andendedbyimbuingthemwithhissuspicions。Thiswasallthemoreeasilydone,asitwasverywellknownthatCavalierhadjoinedtheHuguenotslessfromdevotiontothecausethantoavengeaprivatewrong,andonmanyoccasionshadgivenrisetotheremarkthathehadmoregeniusthanreligion。

So,ongettingbacktoCalvisson,theyoungchieffoundhisprincipalofficers,Ravanelattheirhead,drawnupinthemarket—place,waitingforhim。Assoonashedrewneartheytoldhimthattheyweredeterminedtoknowatoncewhatweretheconditionsofthetreatyhehadsignedwiththemarechal;theyhadmadeuptheirmindstohaveaplainanswerwithoutdelay。Suchawayofspeakingtohimwassostrangeandunexpected,thatCavaliershruggedhisshouldersandrepliedthatsuchmatterswerenobusinessoftheirs,beingtoohighfortheirintelligence;thatitwashisbusinesstodecidewhatcoursetotakeandtheirstotakeit;ithadalwaysbeensointhepast,andwiththehelpofGodandhisown,Cavalier\'s,goodwill,itshouldstillbesoinfuture;andhavingsospoken,hetoldthemtodisperse。Ravaneluponthiscameforward,andinthenameofalltheotherssaidtheywouldnotgoawayuntiltheyknewwhatordersCavalierwasabouttogivethetroops,thattheymightconsultamongthemselveswhethertheyshouldobeythemornot。ThisinsubordinationwastoomuchforCavalier\'spatience。

"Theordersare,"hesaid,"toputontheuniformsthatarebeingmadeforyou,andtofollowmetoPortugal。"

Theeffectofsuchwordsonmenwhowereexpectingnothinglessthanthere—enactmentoftheEdictofNantes,canbeeasilyimagined;thewords"coward"and"traitor"couldbedistinguishedabovethemurmurs,asCavaliernoticedwithincreasingastonishment。Raisinghimselfinhisstirrups,andglancingroundwiththatlookbeforewhichtheyhadbeenusedtotremble,heaskedinavoiceascalmasifallthedemonsofangerwerenotraginginhisheart,"WhocalledJeanCavaliertraitorandcoward？"

"I,"saidRavanel,crossinghisarmsonhisbreast。

Cavalierdrewapistolfromhisholsters,andstrikingthosenearhimwiththebuttend,openedawaytowardshislieutenant,whodrewhissword;butatthismomentthecommissary—general,Vincel,andCaptainCapponthrewthemselvesbetweenthetwoandaskedthecauseofthequarrel。

"Thecause,"saidRavanel,"isthattheCadetsoftheCross,ledbythe\'Hermit,\'havejustknockedoutthebrainsoftwoofourbrethren,whowerecomingtojoinus,andarehinderingothersfrontattendingourmeetingstoworshipGod:theconditionsofthetrucehavingbeenthusbroken,isitlikelytheywillkeepthoseofthetreaty？Werefusetoacceptthetreaty。"

"Sir,"saidVincel,"ifthe\'Hermit\'hasdonewhatyousay,itisagainsttheordersofthemarachal,andthemisdoerwillbepunished;