第14章

Wegivealiteralreproductionofthishistoricdocument:

"Wetheundersigned,Frenchnobles,beingconvincedthatourOrderwasinstitutedthatitmightbecometheprizeofvalourandtheencouragementofvirtue,dodeclarethattheChevalierdeGuerhavinggivenusproofofthedevotiontotheirkingandtheloveoftheircountrywhichhavebeendisplayedbyM。PierreFroment,receiveroftheclergy,andhisthreesons,MathieuFromentcitizen,JacquesFromentcanon,FrancoisFromentadvocate,inhabitantsofNimes,weshallhenceforwardregardthemandtheirdescendantsasnoblesandworthytoenjoyallthedistinctionswhichbelongtothetruenobility。Bravecitizens,whoperformsuchdistinguishedactionsasfightingfortherestorationofthemonarchy,oughttobeconsideredastheequalsofthoseFrenchchevalierswhoseancestorshelpedtofoundit。Furthermore,wedodeclarethatassoonascircumstancespermitweshalljointogethertopetitionHisMajestytogranttothisfamily,soillustriousthroughitsvirtue,allthehonoursandprerogativeswhichbelongtothosebornnoble。

"WedeputetheMarquisdeMeran,Comted\'Espinchal,theMarquisd\'Escars,VicomtedePons,ChevalierdeGuer,andtheMarquisdelaFeronnieretogotoMgr。leComted\'Artois,Mgr。leDucd\'Angouleme,Mgr。leDucdeBerry,Mgr。lePrincedeConde,Mgr。leDuedeBourbon,andMgr。leDucd\'Enghien,tobegthemtoputthemselvesatourheadwhenwerequestHisMajestytogranttoMM。Fromentallthedistinctionsandadvantagesreservedforthetruenobility。

"AtTURIN,12thSeptember1790。"

ThenobilityofLanguedoclearnedofthehonoursconferredontheircountryman,M。Froment,andaddressedthefollowinglettertohim:

"LORCH,July7,1792

"MONSIEUR,ThenoblesofLanguedochastentoconfirmtheresolutionadoptedinyourfavourbythenoblesassembledatTurin。Theyappreciatethezealandthecouragewhichhavedistinguishedyourconductandthatofyourfamily;theyhavethereforeinstructedustoassureyouofthepleasurewithwhichtheywillwelcomeyouamongthosenobleswhoareundertheordersofMarshaldeCastries,andthatyouareatlibertytorepairtoLorchtoassumeyourproperrankinoneofthecompanies。

"Wehavethehonourtobe,monsieur,yourhumbleandobedientservants,COMTEDETOULOUSE—LAUTREC

MARQUISDELAJONQUIERE

ETC。

CHAPTERVII

TheProtestants,aswehavesaid,hailedthegoldendawnoftherevolutionwithdelight;thencametheTerror,whichstruckatallwithoutdistinctionofcreed。Ahundredandthirty—eightheadsfellonthescaffold,condemnedbytherevolutionarytribunaloftheGard。

Ninety—oneofthoseexecutedwereCatholic,andforty—sevenProtestants,sothatitlookedasiftheexecutionersintheirdesireforimpartialityhadtakenacensusofthepopulation。

ThencametheConsulate:theProtestantsbeingmostlytradesmenandmanufacturers,werethereforericherthantheCatholics,andhadmoretolose;theyseemedtoseemorechanceofstabilityinthisformofgovernmentthaninthoseprecedingit,anditwasevidentthatithadamorepowerfulgeniusatitshead,sotheyralliedrounditwithconfidenceandsincerity。TheEmpirefollowed,withitsinclinationtoabsolutism,itsContinentalsystem,anditsincreasedtaxation;

andtheProtestantsdrewbacksomewhat,foritwastowardsthemwhohadhopedsomuchfromhimthatNapoleoninnotkeepingthepromisesofBonapartewasmostperjured。

ThefirstRestoration,therefore,wasgreetedatNimeswithauniversalshoutofjoy;andasuperficial—observermighthavethoughtthatalltraceoftheoldreligiousleavenhaddisappeared。Infact,forseventeenyearsthetwofaithshadlivedsidebysideinperfectpeaceandmutualgood—will;forseventeenyearsmenmeteitherforbusinessorforsocialpurposeswithoutinquiringabouteachother\'sreligion,sothatNimesonthesurfacemighthavebeenheldupasanexampleofunionandfraternity。

WhenMonsieurarrivedatNimes,hisguardofhonourwasdrawnfromthecityguard,whichstillretaineditsorganisationof1812,beingcomposedofcitizenswithoutdistinctionofcreed。Sixdecorationswereconferredonit——threeonCatholics,andthreeonProtestants。

Atthesametime,M。Daunant,M。OlivierDesmonts,andM。deSeine,thefirstthemayor,thesecondthepresidentoftheConsistory,andthethirdamemberofthePrefecture,allthreebelongingtotheReformedreligion,receivedthesamefavour。

SuchimpartialityonthepartofMonsieuralmostbetrayedapreference,andthisoffendedtheCatholics。Theymutteredtooneanotherthatinthepasttherehadbeenatimewhenthefathersofthosewhohadjustbeendecoratedbythehandoftheprincehadfoughtagainsthisfaithfuladherents。HardlyhadMonsieurleftthetown,therefore,thanitbecameapparentthatperfectharmonynolongerexisted。

TheCatholicshadafavoritecaf？,whichduringthewholetimetheEmpirelastedwasalsofrequentedbyProtestantswithoutasingledisputecausedbythedifferenceofreligioneverarising。ButfromthistimeforththeCatholicsbegantoholdthemselvesalooffromtheProtestants;thelatterperceivingthis,gaveupthecaf？bydegreestotheCatholics,beingdeterminedtokeepthepeacewhateveritmightcost,andwenttoacaf？whichhadbeenjustopenedunderthesignofthe"IsleofElba。"ThenamewasenoughtocausethemtoberegardedasBonapartists,andastoBonapartiststhecry"Longlivetheking！"wassupposedtobeoffensive,theyweresalutedateveryturnwiththesewords,pronouncedinatonewhichbecameeverydaymoremenacing。Atfirsttheygavebackthesamecry,"Longlivetheking！"butthentheywerecalledcowardswhoexpressedwiththeirlipsasentimentwhichdidnotcomefromtheirhearts。Feelingthatthisaccusationhadsometruthinit,theyweresilent,butthentheywereaccusedofhatingtheroyalfamily,tillatlengththecrywhichatfirsthadissuedfromfullheartsinauniversalchorusgrewtobenothingbutanexpressionofpartyhatred,sothatonthe21stFebruary,1815,M。Daunantthemayor,byadecree,prohibitedthepublicfromusingit,asithadbecomeameansofexcitingsedition。

PartyfeelinghadreachedthisheightatNimeswhen,onthe4thMarch,thenewsofthelandingofNapoleonarrived。

Deepaswastheimpressionproduced,thecityremainedcalm,butsomewhatsullen;inanycase,thereportwantedconfirmation。

Napoleon,whoknewofthesympathythatthemountaineersfeltforhim,wentatonceintotheAlps,andhiseagledidnotasyettakesohighaflightthatitcouldbeseenhoveringaboveMountGeneve。

Onthe12th,theDucd\'Angoulemearrived:twoproclamationscallingthecitizenstoarmssignalisedhispresence。ThecitizensansweredthecallwithtrueSouthernardour:anarmywasformed;butalthoughProtestantsandCatholicspresentedthemselvesforenrolmentwithequalalacrity,theProtestantswereexcluded,theCatholicsdenyingtherightofdefendingtheirlegitimatesovereigntoanybutthemselves。

ThisspeciesofselectionapparentlywentonwithouttheknowledgeoftheDucd\'Angouleme。DuringhisstayinNimeshereceivedProtestantsandCatholicswithequalcordiality,andtheysetathistablesidebyside。Ithappenedonce,onaFriday,atdinner,thataProtestantgeneraltookfishandaCatholicgeneralhelpedhimselftofowl。Thedukebeingamused,drewattentiontothisanomaly,whereupontheCatholicgeneralreplied,"Bettermorechickenandlesstreason。"Thisattackwassodirect,thatalthoughtheProtestantgeneralfeltthatasfarashewasconcernedithadnopoint,herosefromtableandlefttheroom。ItwasthebraveGeneralGillywhowastreatedinthiscruelmanner。

Meanwhilethenewsbecamemoredisastrouseveryday:Napoleonwasmovingaboutwiththerapidityofhiseagles。Onthe24thMarchitwasreportedinNimesthatLouisXVIIIhadleftParisonthe19thandthatNapoleonhadenteredonthe20th。Thisreportwastracedtoitssource,anditwasfoundthatithadbeenspreadabroadbyM。VincentdeSaint—Laurent,acouncillorofthePrefectureandoneofthemostrespectedmeninNimes。Hewassummonedatoncebeforetheauthoritiesandaskedwhencehehadthisinformation;hereplied,"FromaletterreceivedfromM。Bragueres,"producingtheletter。

Butconvincingaswasthisproof,itavailedhimnothing:hewasescortedfrombrigadetobrigadetillhereachedtheChateaud\'If。

TheProtestantssidedwithM。VincentdeSaint—Laurent,theCatholicstookthepartoftheauthoritieswhowerepersecutinghim,andthusthetwofactionswhichhadbeensolongquiescentfoundthemselvesoncemorefacetoface,andtheirdormanthatredawoketonewlife。

Forthemoment,however,therewasnoexplosion,althoughthecitywasatfeverheat,andeveryonefeltthatacrisiswasathand。

Onthe22ndMarchtwobattalionsofCatholicvolunteershadalreadybeenenlistedatNimes,andhadformedpartoftheeighteenhundredmenwhoweresenttoSaint—Esprit。Justbeforetheirdeparturefleurs—de—lyshadbeendistributedamongstthem,madeofredcloth;

thischangeinthecolourofthemonarchicalemblemwasathreatwhichtheProtestantswellunderstood。

TheprinceleftNimesinduecourse,takingwithhimtherestoftheroyalvolunteers,andleavingtheProtestantspracticallymastersofNimesduringtheabsenceofsomanyCatholics。Thecity,however,continuedcalm,andwhenprovocationsbegan,strangetosaytheycamefromtheweakerparty。

Onthe27thMarchsixmenmetinabarn;dinedtogether,andthenagreedtomakethecircuitofthetown。ThesemenwereJacquesDupont,wholateracquiredsuchterriblecelebrityunderthenameofTrestaillons,Truphemythebutcher,Morenetthedogshearer,Hours,Servant,andGilles。Theygotoppositethecaf？"IsleofElba,"thenameofwhichindicatedtheopinionofthosewhofrequentedit。Thiscaf？wasfacedbyaguard—housewhichwasoccupiedbysoldiersofthe67thRegiment。Thesixmadeahalt,andinthemostinsultingtonesraisedthecryof"Longlivetheking！"ThedisturbancethatensuedwassoslightthatweonlymentionitinordertogiveanideaofthetoleranceoftheProtestants,andtobringuponthestagethemenmentionedabove,whowerethreemonthslatertoplaysuchaterriblepart。

OnApril1stthemayorsummonedtoameetingathisofficialresidencethemunicipalcouncil,themembersofallthevariouslyconstitutedadministrativebodiesinNimes,theofficersofthecityguards,thepriests,theProtestantpastors,andthechiefcitizens。

Atthismeeting,M。Trinquelague,advocateoftheRoyalCourts,readapowerfuladdress,expressingthelove,ofthecitizensfortheirkingandcountry,andexhortingthemtounionandpeace。Thisaddresswasunanimouslyadoptedandsignedbyallpresent,andamongstthesignatureswerethoseoftheprincipalProtestantsofNimes。Butthiswasnotall:thenextdayitwasprintedandpublished,andcopiessenttoallthecommunesinthedepartmentoverwhichthewhiteflagstillfloated。Andallthishappened,aswehavesaid,onApriland,elevendaysafterNapoleon\'sreturntoParis。

ThesamedaywordarrivedthattheImperialGovernmenthadbeenproclaimedatMontpellier。

Thenextday,April3rd,alltheofficersonhalf—payassembledatthefountaintobereviewedbyageneralandasub—inspector,andastheseofficerswerelate,theorderofthe,dayissuedbyGeneralAmbert,recognisingtheImperialGovernment,wasproducedandpassedalongtheranks,causingsuchexcitementthatoneoftheofficersdrewhisswordandcried,"Longlivetheemperor！"Thesemagicwordswerere—echoedfromeveryside,andtheyallhastenedtothebarracksofthe63rdRegiment,whichatoncejoinedtheofficers。AtthisjunctureMarshalPelissierarrived,anddidnotappeartowelcometheturnthingshadtaken;hemadeanefforttorestraintheenthusiasmofthecrowd,butwasimmediatelyarrestedbyhisownsoldiers。TheofficersrepairedinabodytotheheadquartersofGeneralBriche,commandantofthegarrison,andaskedfortheofficialcopyoftheorderoftheday。Herepliedthathehadreceivednone,andwhenquestionedastowhichsidehewasonherefusedtoanswer。Theofficersuponthistookhimprisoner。Justastheyhadconsignedhimtothebarracksforconfinement,apost—officeofficialarrivedbringingadespatchfromGeneralAmbert。LearningthatGeneralBrichewasaprisoner,themessengercarriedhispackettothecolonelofthe63rdRegiment,whowasthenextinseniorityafterthegeneral。Inopeningit,itwasfoundtocontaintheorderoftheday。

Instantlythecolonelorderedthe\'gineyale\'tosound:thetownguardsassumedarms,thetroopsleftthebarracksandformedinline,theNationalGuardsintherearoftheregulartroops,andwhentheywereallthusdrawnup;theorderofthedaywasread;itwasthensnatchedoutofthecolonel\'shands,printedonlargeplacards,andinlesstimethanseemedpossibleitwaspostedupineverystreetandateverystreetcorner;thetricolourreplacedthewhitecockade,everyonebeingobligedtowearthenationalemblemornoneatall,thecitywasproclaimedinastateofseige,andthemilitaryofficersformedavigilancecommitteeandapoliceforce。

WhiletheDucd\'AngoulemehadbeenstayingatNimes,GeneralGillyhadappliedforacommandinthatprince\'sarmy,butinspiteofallhiseffortsobtainednothing;soimmediatelyafterthedinneratwhichhewasinsultedhehadwithdrawntoAvernede,hisplaceinthecountry。Hewasawokeinthenightofthe5th—6thAprilbyacourierfromGeneralAmbert,whosenttoofferhimthecommandofthe2ndSubdivision。Onthe6th,GeneralGillywenttoNimes,andsentinhisacceptance,wherebythedepartmentsoftheGard,theLozere,andArdechepassedunderhisauthority。

NextdayGeneralGillyreceivedfurtherdespatchesfromGeneralAmbert,fromwhichhelearnedthatitwasthegeneral\'sintention,inordertoavoidthedangerofacivilwar,toseparatetheDucd\'Angouleme\'sarmyfromthedepartmentswhichsympathisedwiththeroyalcause;hehadthereforedecidedtomakePont—Saint—Espritamilitarypost,andhadorderedthel0thRegimentofmountedchasseurs,the13thartillery,andabattalionofinfantrytomovetowardsthispointbyforcedmarches。ThesetroopswerecommandedbyColonelSaint—Laurent,butGeneralAmbertwasanxiousthatifitcouldbedonewithoutdanger,GeneralGillyshouldleaveNimes,takingwithhimpartofthe63rdRegiment,andjoiningtheotherforcesunderthecommandofColonelSaint—Laurent,shouldassumethechiefcommand。Asthecitywasquitetranquil,GeneralGillydidnothesitatetoobeythisorder:hesetoutfromNimesonthe7th,passedthenightatUzes,andfindingthattownabandonedbythemagistrates,declareditinastateofsiege,lestdisturbancesshouldariseintheabsenceofauthority。HavingplacedM。deBressonincommand,aretiredchiefofbattalionwhowasborninUzes,andwhousuallylivedthere,hecontinuedhismarchonthemorningofthe8th。

BeyondthevillageofConans,GeneralGillymetanorderlysenttohimbyColonelSaint—Laurenttoinformhimthathe,thecolonel,hadoccupiedPontSaint—Esprit,andthattheDucd\'Angouleme,findinghimselfthuscaughtbetweentwofires,hadjustsentGenerald\'Aultanne,chiefofstaffintheroyalarmy,tohim,toenterintonegotiationsforasurrender。Uponthis,GeneralGillyquickenedhisadvance,andonreachingPont—Saint—EspritfoundGenerald\'AultanneandColonelSaint—LaurentconferringtogetherattheHoteldelaPoste。

AsColonelSaint—Laurenthadreceivedhisinstructionsdirectlyfromthecommander—in—chief,severalpointsrelatingtothecapitulationhadalreadybeenagreedupon;oftheseGeneralGillyslightlyalteredsome,andapprovedoftheothers,andthesamedaythefollowingconventionwassigned:

"ConventionconcludedbetweenGeneralGillyandBarondeDamas"S。A。R。Mgr。leDucd\'Angouleme,Commanderin—ChiefoftheroyalarmyintheSouth,andBarondeGilly,GeneralofDivisionandCommander—in—ChiefofthefirstcorpsoftheImperialArmy,beingmostanxiouslydesiroustopreventanyfurthereffusionofFrenchblood,havegivenplenarypowerstoarrangethetermsofaconventiontoS。A。R。M。leBarondeDamas,Field—MarshalandUnder—ChiefofStaff,andGeneraldeGillyandAdjutantLefevre,ChevalieroftheLegionofHonour,andChiefoftheStaffofthefirstArmyCorps;

who,havingshowneachothertheirrespectivecredentials,haveagreedonthefollowingterms:——

"Art。1。Theroyalarmyistobedisbanded;andtheNationalGuardswhichareenrolledinit,underwhatevernametheymayhavebeenlevied,willreturntotheirhomes,afterlayingdowntheirarms。

Safeconductswillbeprovided,andthegeneralofdivisioncommanding—in—chiefguaranteesthattheyshallneverbemolestedforanythingtheymayhavesaidordoneinconnectionwiththeeventsprecedingthepresentconvention。

"Theofficerswillretaintheirswords;thetroopsofthelinewhoformpartofthisarmywillrepairtosuchgarrisonsasmaybeassignedtothem。

"Art。2。Thegeneralofficers,superiorstaffofficersandothersofallbranchesoftheservice,andthechiefsandsubordinatesoftheadministrativedepartments,ofwhosenamesalistwillbefurnishedtothegeneral—in—chief,willretiretotheirhomesandthereawaittheordersofHisMajestytheEmperor。

"Art。3。Officersofeveryrankwhowishtoresigntheircommissionsarecompetenttodoso。Theywillreceivepassportsfortheirhomes。

"Art。4。Thefundsofthearmyandthelistsofthepaymaster—

generalwillbehandedoveratoncetocommissionersappointedforthatpurposebythecommander—in—chief。

"Art。5。TheabovearticlesapplytothecorpscommandedbyMgr。leDucd\'Angoulemeinperson,andalsotothosewhoactseparatelybutunderhisorders,andasformingpartoftheroyalarmyoftheSouth。

"Art。6。H。R。H。willposttoCette,wherethevesselsnecessaryforhimandhissuitewillbewaitingtotakehimwhereverhemaydesire。

DetachmentsoftheImperialArmywillbeplacedatalltherelaysontheroadtoprotectHisRoyalHighnessduringthejourney,andthehonoursduetohisrankwillbeeverywherepaidhim,ifhesodesire。

"Art。7。AlltheofficersandotherpersonsofHisRoyalHighness\'

suitewhodesiretofollowhimwillbepermittedtodoso,andtheymayeitherembarkwithhimatonceorlater,shouldtheirprivateaffairsneedtimeforarrangement。

"Art。8。ThepresenttreatywillbekeptsecretuntilHisRoyalHighnesshavequittedthelimitsoftheempire。

"Executedinduplicateandagreeduponbetweentheabove—mentionedplenipotentiariesthe8thdayofAprilintheyear1815,withtheapprovalofthegeneralcommanding—in—chief,andsigned,"AttheheadquartersatPont—Saint—Espritonthedayandyearabovewritten（Signed）LEFEVRE

AdjutantandChiefofStaffoftheFirstCorpsoftheImperialArmyoftheSouth（Signed）BARONDEDAMAS

Field—MarshalandUnder—ChiefofStaff"ThepresentconventionisapprovedofbytheGeneralofDivisionCommanding—in—ChieftheImperialArmyoftheSouth。

（Signed）GILLY"

AftersomediscussionbetweenGeneralGillyandGeneralGrouchy,thecapitulationwascarriedintoeffect。Onthe16thApril,ateighto\'clockinthemorning,theDucd\'AngoulemearrivedatCette,andwentonboardtheSwedishvesselScandinavia,which,takingadvantageofafavourablewind,setsailthesameday。

Earlyinthemorningofthe9thanofficerofhighrankhadbeensenttoLaPaludtoissuesafe—conductstothetroops,whoaccordingtoArticleIofthecapitulationweretoreturnhome"afterlayingdowntheirarms。"Butduringtheprecedingdayandnightsomeoftheroyalvolunteershadevadedthisarticlebywithdrawingwiththeirarmsandbaggage。Asthisinfractionofthetermsledtoseriousconsequences,wepropose,inordertoestablishthefact,tocitethedepositionsofthreeroyalvolunteerswhoafterwardsgaveevidence。

"OnleavingthearmyoftheDucd\'Angoulemeafterthecapitulation,"

saysJeanSaunier,"IwentwithmyofficersandmycorpstoSaint—Jean—des—Anels。FromtherewemarchedtowardsUzes。Inthemiddleofaforest,nearavillage,thenameofwhichIhaveforgotten,ourGeneralM。deVoguetoldusthatwewerealltoreturntoourownhomes。Weaskedhimwhereweshoulddeposittheflag。

JustthenCommandantMagnedetacheditfromthestaffandputitinhispocket。Wethenaskedthegeneralwhereweshoulddepositourarms;hereplied,thatwehadbetterkeepthem,asweshouldprobablyfinduseforthembeforelong,andalsototakeourammunitionwithus,toensureoursafetyontheroad。

"Fromthattimeonwealldidwhatwethoughtbest:sixty—fourofusremainedtogether,andtookaguidetoenableustoavoidUzes。"

NicholasMarie,labourer,deposedasfollows:

"OnleavingthearmyoftheDucd\'Angoulemeafterthecapitulation,I

wentwithmyofficersandmycorpstoSaint—Jean—des—Anels。WemarchedtowardsUzes,butwhenwewereinthemiddleofaforest,nearavillagethenameofwhichIhaveforgotten,ourgeneral,M。deVogue,toldusthatweweretogotoourownhomesassoonasweliked。WesawCommandantMagneloosetheflagfromitsstaff,rollitupandputitinhispocket。Weaskedthegeneralwhatweweretodowithourarms;herepliedthatweweretokeepboththemandourammunition,asweshouldfindthemofuse。Uponthis,ourchiefsleftus,andweallgotawayasbestwecould。"

"AfterthecapitulationoftheDucd\'AngoulemeIfoundmyself,"

deposesPaulLambert,lace—makerofNimes,"inoneofseveraldetachmentsundertheordersofCommandantMagneandGeneralVogue。

Inthemiddleofaforestnearavillage,thenameofwhichIdonotknow,M。deVogueandtheotherofficer,tolduswemightgohome。

Theflagwasfoldedup,andM。Magneputitinhispocket。Weaskedourchiefswhatweweretodowithourarms。M。deVoguetoldusthatwehadbetterkeepthem,asweshouldneedthembeforeverylong;andinanycaseitwouldbewelltohavethemwithusontheroad,lestanythingshouldhappentous。"

Thethreedepositionsaretoomuchaliketoleaveroomforanydoubt。

TheroyalvolunteerscontravenedArticleIoftheconvention。

Beingthusabandonedbytheirchiefs,withoutgeneralandwithoutflag,M。deVogue\'ssoldiersaskednofurthercounselofanyonebutthemselves,and,asoneofthemhasalreadytoldus,sixty—fourofthemjoinedtogethertohireaguidewhowastoshowthemhowtogetbyUzeswithoutgoingthroughit,fortheywereafraidofmeetingwithinsultthere。TheguidebroughtthemasfarasMontaremwithoutanyoneopposingtheirpassageortakingnoticeoftheirarms。

SuddenlyacoachmannamedBertrand,aconfidentialservantofAbbeRafin,formerGrand—VicarofAlais,andofBaronessArnaud—Wurmeser（fortheabbeadministeredtheestateofAureillacinhisownnameandthatofthebaroness）,gallopedintothevillageofArpaillargues,whichwasalmostentirelyProtestantandconsequentlyNapoleonist,announcingthatthemiquelets（forafteronehundredandtenyearstheoldnamegiventotheroyaltroopswasrevived）wereonthewayfromMontarem,pillaginghouses,murderingmagistrates,outragingwomen,andthenthrowingthemoutofthewindows。Itiseasytounderstandtheeffectofsuchastory。Thepeoplegatheredtogetheringroups;themayorandhisassistantbeingabsent,BertrandwastakenbeforeacertainBoucarut,whoonreceivinghisreportorderedthegeneraletobebeatenandthetocsintoberung。

Thentheconsternationbecamegeneral:themenseizedtheirmuskets,thewomenandchildrenstonesandpitchforks,andeveryonemadereadytofaceadangerwhichonlyexistedintheimaginationofBertrand,fortherewasnotashadowoffoundationforthestoryhehadtold。

Whilethevillagewasinthisstateoffeverishexcitementtheroyalvolunteerscameinsight。Hardlyweretheyseenthanthecry,"Theretheyare！Theretheyare！"aroseonallsides,thestreetswerebarricadedwithcarts,thetocsinrangoutwithredoubledfrenzy,andeveryonecapableofcarryingarmsrushedtotheentranceofthevillage。

Thevolunteers,hearingtheuproarandseeingthehostilepreparations,halted,andtoshowthattheirintentionswerepeaceful,puttheirshakosontheirmusketstocksandwavedthemabovetheirheads,shoutingthatnooneneedfear,fortheywoulddonoharmtoanyone。ButalarmedastheywerebytheterriblestoriestoldbyBertrand,thevillagersshoutedbackthattheycouldnottrusttosuchassurances,andthatiftheywantedtopassthroughthevillagetheymustfirstgiveuptheirweapons。Itmayeasilybeimaginedthatmenwhohadbrokentheconventioninordertokeeptheirweaponswerenotlikelytogivethemuptothesevillagers——infact,theyobstinatelyrefusedtoletthemoutoftheirhands,andbydoingsoincreasedthesuspicionsofthepeople。AparleyofaveryexcitedcharactertookplacebetweenM。FournierfortheroyalguardsandM。Boucarut,whowaschosenspokesmanbythevillagers。Fromwordstheycametodeeds:themiqueletstriedtoforcetheirwaythrough,someshotswerefired,andtwomiquelets,CalvetandFournier,fell。Theothersscattered,followedbyalivelydischarge,andtwomoremiqueletswereslightlywounded。Thereupontheyalltooktoflightthroughthefieldsoneithersideoftheroad,pursuedforashortdistancebythevillagers,butsoonreturnedtoexaminethetwowoundedmen,andareportwasdrawnupbyAntoineRobin,advocateandmagistrateofthecantonofUzes,oftheeventsjustrelated。

ThisaccidentwasalmosttheonlyoneofitskindwhichhappenedduringtheHundredDays:thetwopartiesremainedfacetoface,threateningbutself—controlled。Butlettherebenomistake:therewasnopeace;theyweresimplyawaitingadeclarationofwar。Whenthecalmwasbroken,itwasfromMarseillesthattheprovocationcame。Weshalleffaceourselvesforatimeandletaneye—witnessspeak,whobeingaCatholiccannotbesuspectedofpartialityfortheProtestants。

"IwaslivinginMarseillesatthetimeofNapoleon\'slanding,andI

wasawitnessoftheimpressionwhichthenewsproduceduponeveryone。Therewasonegreatcry;theenthusiasmwasuniversal;theNationalGuardwantedtojoinhimtothelastman,butMarshalMassenadidnotgivehisconsentuntilitwastoolate,forNapoleonhadalreadyreachedthemountains,andwasmovingwithsuchswiftnessthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoovertakehim。NextweheardofhistriumphalentryintoLyons,andofhisarrivalinParisduringthenight。MarseillessubmittedliketherestofFrance;Princed\'Esslingwasrecalledtothecapital,andMarshalBrune,whocommandedthe6thcorpsofobservation,fixedhisheadquartersatMarseilles。

"Withquiteincomprehensiblefickleness,Marseilles,whosenameduringtheTerrorhadbeen,asonemaysay,thesymbolofthemostadvancedopinions,hadbecomealmostentirelyRoyalistin1815。

Nevertheless,itsinhabitantssawwithoutamurmurthetricolourflagafterayear\'sabsencefloatingoncemoreabovethewalls。Noarbitraryinterferenceonthepartoftheauthorities,nothreats,andnobrawlingbetweenthecitizensandthesoldiers,troubledthepeaceofoldPhocea;norevolutionevertookplacewithsuchquietnessandfacility。

"Itmust,however,besaid,thatMarshalBrunewasjustthemantoaccomplishsuchatransformationwithoutfriction;inhimthefranknessandloyaltyofanoldsoldierwerecombinedwithotherqualitiesmoresolidthanbrilliant。Tacitusinhand,helookedonatmodernrevolutionsastheypassed,andonlyinterferedwhenthe,voiceofhiscountrycalledhimtoherdefence。TheconquerorofHarlemandBakkunhadbeenforfouryearsforgotteninretirement,orratherinexile,whenthesamevoicewhichsenthimawayrecalledhim,andatthesummonsCincinnatuslefthisploughandgraspedhisweapons。Physicallyhewasatthisperiodamanofaboutfifty—five,withafrankandopenfaceframedbylargewhiskers;hisheadwasbaldexceptforalittlegrizzledhairatthetemples;hewastallandactive,andhadaremarkablysoldierlybearing。