第16章

"IfanyjourneycouldgiveacorrectideaofthepreparationsforcivilwarandtheconfusionwhichalreadyprevailedintheSouth,I

shouldthinkthatwithoutcontradictionitwouldbethatwhichwetookthatday。AlongthefourleagueswhichliebetweenBeaucaireandNimeswerepostedatfrequentintervalsdetachmentsoftroopsdisplayingalternatelythewhiteandthetricolouredcockade。EveryvillageuponourrouteexceptthosejustoutsideofNimeshaddefinitelyjoinedeitheronepartyortheother,andthesoldiers,whowerestationedatequaldistancesalongtheroad,werenowRoyalistandnowBonapartist。BeforeleavingBeaucairewehadallprovidedourselves,takingexamplebythemenwehadseenatOrgon,withtwocockades,onewhite,andonetricoloured,andbypeepingoutfromcarriagewindowswewereabletoseewhichwaswornbythetroopswewereapproachingintimetoattachasimilaronetoourhatsbeforewegotuptothem,whilstwehidtheotherinourshoes;

thenaswewerepassingwestuckourheads,decoratedaccordingtocircumstances,outofthewindows,andshoutedvigorously,\'Longlivetheking！\'or\'Longlivetheemperor！\'asthecasedemanded。Thankstothisconcessiontopoliticalopinionsonthehighway,andinnolessdegreetothemoneywhichwegavebywayoftipstoeverybodyeverywhere,wearrivedatlengthatthebarriersofNimes,wherewecameupwiththeNationalGuardswhohadbeenrepulsedbythetownspeopleofBeaucaire。

"Thisiswhathadtakenplacejustbeforewearrivedinthecity:

"TheNationalGuardofNimesandthetroopsofwhichthegarrisonwascomposedhadresolvedtouniteingivingabanquetonSunday,the28thofJune,tocelebratethesuccessoftheFrencharmy。ThenewsofthebattleofWaterlootravelledmuchmorequicklytoMarseillesthantoNimes,sothebanquettookplacewithoutinterruption。A

bustofNapoleonwascarriedinprocessionalloverthetown,andthentheregularsoldiersandtheNationalGuarddevotedtherestofthedaytorejoicings,whichwerefollowedbynoexcess。

"ButthedaywasnotquitefinishedbeforenewscamethatnumerousmeetingsweretakingplaceatBeaucaire,soalthoughthenewsofthedefeatatWaterlooreachedNimesonthefollowingTuesday,thetroopswhichwehadseenreturningatthegatesofthecityhadbeendespatchedonWednesdaytodispersetheseassemblies。MeantimetheBonapartists,underthecommandofGeneralGilly,amongstwhomwasaregimentofchasseurs,beginningtodespairofthesuccessoftheircause,feltthattheirsituationwasbecomingverycritical,especiallyastheylearntthattheforcesatBeaucairehadassumedtheoffensiveandwereabouttomarchuponNimes。AsIhadhadnoconnectionwithanythingthathadtakenplaceinthecapitaloftheGard,Ipersonallyhadnothingtofear;buthavinglearnedbyexperiencehoweasilysuspicionsarise,Iwasafraidthattheill—luckwhichhadnotsparedeithermyfriendsormyfamilymightleadtotheirbeingaccusedofhavingreceivedarefugeefromMarseilles,awordwhichinitselfhadsmallsignificance,butwhichinthemouthofanenemymightbefatal。Fearsforthefuturebeingthusarousedbymyrecollectionsofthepast,Idecidedtogiveupthecontemplationofadramawhichmightbecomeredoubtable,askedtoburymyselfinthecountrywiththefirmintentionofcomingbacktoNimesassoonasthewhiteflagshouldoncemorefloatfromitstowers。

"AnoldcastleintheCevennes,whichfromthedayswhentheAlbigenseswereburnt,downtothemassacreofLaBagarre,hadwitnessedmanyarevolutionandcounterrevolution,becametheasylumofmywife,mymother,M_____,andmyself。Asthepeacefultranquillityofourlifetherewasunbrokenbyanyeventofinterest,Ishallnotpausetodwellonit。Butatlengthwegrewweary,forsuchisman,ofourlifeofcalm,andbeingleftoncefornearlyaweekwithoutanynewsfromoutside,wemadethatanexcuseforreturningtoNimesinordertoseewithourowneyeshowthingsweregoingon。

"Whenwewereabouttwoleaguesonourwaywemetthecarriageofafriend,arichlandedproprietorfromthecity;seeingthathewasinit,IalightedtoaskhimwhatwashappeningatNimes。\'Ihopeyoudonotthinkofgoingthere,\'saidhe,\'especiallyatthismoment;

theexcitementisintense,bloodhasalreadyflowed,andacatastropheisimminent。\'Sobackwewenttoourmountaincastle,butinafewdaysbecameagainapreytothesamerestlessness,and,notbeingabletoovercomeit,decidedtogoatallrisksandseeforourselvestheconditionofaffairs;andthistime,neitheradvicenorwarninghavinganyeffect,wenotonlysetout,butwearrivedatourdestinationthesameevening。

"Wehadnotbeenmisinformed,frayshavingalreadytakenplaceinthestreetswhichhadheatedpublicopinion。OnemanhadbeenkilledontheEsplanadebyamusketshot,anditseemedasifhisdeathwouldbeonlytheforerunnerofmany。TheCatholicswereawaitingwithimpatiencethearrivalofthosedoughtywarriorsfromBeaucaireonwhomtheyplacedtheirchiefreliance。TheProtestantswentaboutinpainfulsilence,andfearblanchedeveryface。Atlengththewhiteflagwashoistedandthekingproclaimedwithoutanyofthedisorderswhichhadbeendreadedtakingplace,butitwasplainlyvisiblethatthiscalmwasonlyapausebeforeastruggle,andthatontheslightestpretextthepent—uppassionswouldbreaklooseagain。

"Justatthistimethememoryofourquietlifeinthemountainsinspireduswithahappyidea。WehadlearnedthattheobstinateresolutionofMarshalBrunenevertoacknowledgeLouisXVIIIaskinghadbeensoftened,andthatthemarshalhadbeeninducedtohoistthewhiteflagatToulon,whilewithacockadeinhishathehadformallyresignedthecommandofthatplaceintothehandsoftheroyalauthorities。

"HenceforwardinallProvencetherewasnospotwherehecouldliveunmarked。Hisultimateintentionswereunknowntous,indeedhismovementsseemedtoshowgreathesitationonhispart,soitoccurredtoustoofferhimourlittlecountryhouseasarefugewherehecouldawaitthearrivalofmorepeacefultimes。WedecidedthatM____andanotherfriendofourswhohadjustarrivedfromParisshouldgotohimandmaketheoffer,whichhewouldatonceacceptallthemorereadilybecauseitcamefromtheheartswhichweredeeplydevotedtohim。Theysetout,buttomygreatsurprisereturnedthesameday。TheybroughtuswordthatMarshalBrunehadbeenassassinatedatAvignon。

"Atfirstwecouldnotbelievethedreadfulnews,andtookitforoneofthoseghastlyrumourswhichcirculatewithsuchrapidityduringperiodsofcivilstrife;butwewerenotleftlonginuncertainty,forthedetailsofthecatastrophearrivedalltoosoon。"

CHAPTERVIII

ForsomedaysAvignonhaditsassassins,asMarseilleshadhadthem,andasNimeswasabouttohavethem;forsomedaysallAvignonshudderedatthenamesoffivemen——Pointu,Farges,Roquefort,Naudaud,andMagnan。

PointuwasaperfecttypeofthemenoftheSouth,olive—skinnedandeagle—eyed,withahooknose,andteethofivory。Althoughhewashardlyabovemiddleheight,andhisbackwasbentfrombearingheavyburdens,hislegsbowedbythepressureoftheenormousmasseswhichhedailycarried,hewasyetpossessedofextraordinarystrengthanddexterity。HecouldthrowovertheLoullegatea48—poundcannonballaseasilyasachildcouldthrowitsball。HecouldflingastonefromonebankoftheRhonetotheotherwhereitwastwohundredyardswide。Andlastly,hecouldthrowaknifebackwardswhilerunningatfullspeedwithsuchstrengthandprecisionofaimthatthisnewkindofParthianarrowwouldgowhistlingthroughtheairtohidetwoinchesofitsironheadinatreetrunknothickerthanaman\'sthigh。Whentotheseaccomplishmentsareaddedanequalskillwiththemusket,thepistol,andthequarter—staff,agooddealofmotherwit,adeephatredforRepublicans,againstwhomhehadvowedvengeanceatthefootofthescaffoldonwhichhisfatherandmotherhadperished,anideacanbeformedoftheterriblechiefoftheassassinsofAvignon,whohadforhislieutenants,Fargesthesilk—weaver,Roqueforttheporter,Naudaudthebaker,andMagnanthesecondhandclothesdealer。

Avignonwasentirelyinthepowerofthesefivemen,whosebrutalconductthecivilandmilitaryauthoritieswouldnotorcouldnotrepress,whenwordcamethatMarshalBrune,whowasatLucincommandofsixthousandtroops,hadbeensummonedtoParistogiveanaccountofhisconducttothenewGovernment。

Themarshal,knowingthestateofintenseexcitementwhichprevailedintheSouth,andforeseeingtheperilslikelytomeethimontheroad,askedpermissiontotravelbywater,butmetwithanofficialrefusal,andtheDucdeRiviere,governorofMarseilles,furnishedhimwithasafe—conduct。Thecut—throatsbellowedwithjoywhentheylearnedthataRepublicanof\'89,whohadrisentotherankofmarshalundertheUsurper,wasabouttopassthroughAvignon。Atthesametimesinisterreportsbegantorunfrommouthtomouth,theharbingersofdeath。Oncemoretheinfamousslanderwhichahundredtimeshadbeenprovedtobefalse,raiseditsvoicewithdoggedpersistence,assertingthatBrune,whodidnotarriveatParisuntilthe5thofSeptember,1792,hadonthe2nd,whenstillatLyons,carriedtheheadofthePrincessedeLamballeimpaledonapike。

SoonthenewscamethatthemarshalhadjustescapedassassinationatAix,indeedheowedhissafetytothefleetnessofhishorses。

Pointu,Forges,andRoquefortsworethattheywouldmanagethingsbetteratAvignon。

BytheroutewhichthemarshalhadchosentherewereonlytwowaysopenbywhichhecouldreachLyons:hemusteitherpassthroughAvignon,oravoiditbytakingacross—road,whichbranchedoffthePointethighway,twoleaguesoutsidethetown。Theassassinsthoughthewouldtakethelattercourse,andonthe2ndofAugust,thedayonwhichthemarshalwasexpected,Pointu,Magnan,andNaudaud,withfouroftheircreatures,tookacarriageatsixo\'clockinthemorning,and,settingoutfromtheRhonebridge,hidthemselvesbythesideofthehighroadtoPointet。

Whenthemarshalreachedthepointwheretheroaddivided,havingbeenwarnedofthehostilefeelingssorifeinAvignon,hedecidedtotakethecross—roaduponwhichPointuandhismenwereawaitinghim;

butthepostillionobstinatelyrefusedtodriveinthisdirection,sayingthathealwayschangedhorsesatAvignon,andnotatPointet。

Oneofthemarshal\'saides—de—camptried,pistolinhand,toforcehimtoobey;butthemarshalwouldpermitnoviolencetobeofferedhim,andgavehimorderstogoontoAvignon。

Themarshalreachedthetownatnineo\'clockinthemorning,andalightedattheHotelduPalaisRoyal,whichwasalsothepost—house。

Whilefreshhorseswerebeingputtoandthepassportsandsafe—

conductexaminedattheLoullegate,themarshalenteredthehoteltotakeaplateofsoup。Inlessthanfiveminutesacrowdgatheredroundthedoor,andM。Moulintheproprietornoticingthesinisterandthreateningexpressionmanyofthefacesbore,wenttothemarshal\'sroomandurgedhimtoleaveinstantlywithoutwaitingforhispapers,pledginghiswordthathewouldsendamanonhorsebackafterhim,whowouldovertakehimtwoorthreeleaguesbeyondthetown,andbringhimhisownsafe—conductandthepassportsofhisaides—de—camp。Themarshalcamedownstairs,andfindingthehorsesready,gotintothecarriage,onwhichloudmurmursarosefromthepopulace,amongstwhichcouldbedistinguishedtheterribleword\'zaou！\'thatexcitedcryoftheProvencal,whichaccordingtothetoneinwhichitisutteredexpresseseveryshadeofthreat,andwhichmeansatonceinasinglesyllable,"Bite,rend,kill,murder！"

Themarshalsetoutatagallop,andpassedthetowngatesunmolested,exceptbythehowlingsofthepopulace,who,however,madenoattempttostophim。Hethoughthehadleftallhisenemiesbehind,butwhenhereachedtheRhonebridgehefoundagroupofmenarmedwithmusketswaitingthere,ledbyFargesandRoquefort。Theyallraisedtheirgunsandtookaimatthemarshal,whothereuponorderedthepostilliontodriveback。Theorderwasobeyed,butwhenthecarriagehadgoneaboutfiftyyardsitwasmetbythecrowdfromthe"PalaisRoyal,"whichhadfollowedit,sothepostillionstopped。

Inamomentthetraceswerecut,whereuponthemarshal,openingthedoor,alighted,followedbyhisvalet,andpassingonfootthroughtheLoullegate,followedbyasecondcarriageinwhichwerehisaides—de—camp,heregainedthe"PalaisRoyal,"thedoorsofwhichwereopenedtohimandhissuite,andimmediatelysecuredagainstallothers。

Themarshalaskedtobeshowntoaroom,andM。MoulingavehimNo。1,tothefront。Intenminutesthreethousandpeoplefilledthesquare;itwasasifthepopulationsprangupfromtheground。Justthenthecarriage,whichthemarshalhadleftbehind,cameup,thepostillionhavingtiedthetraces,andasecondtimethegreatyardgateswereopened,andinspiteofthepressclosedagainandbarricadedbytheporterVernet,andM。Moulinhimself,bothofwhomweremenofcolossalstrength。Theaides—de—camp,whohadremainedinthecarriageuntilthen,nowalighted,andaskedtobeshowntothemarshal;butMoulinorderedtheportertoconcealtheminanouthouse。Vernettakingoneineachhand,draggedthemoffdespitetheirstruggles,andpushingthembehindsomeemptybarrels,overwhichhethrewanoldpieceofcarpet,saidtotheminavoiceassolemnasifhewereaprophet,"Ifyoumove,youaredeadmen,"andleftthem。Theaides—de—campremainedtheremotionlessandsilent。

AtthatmomentM。deSaint—Chamans,prefectofAvignon,whohadarrivedintownatfiveo\'clockinthemorning,cameoutintothecourtyard。Bythistimethecrowdwassmashingthewindowsandbreakinginthestreetdoor。Thesquarewasfulltooverflowing,everywherethreateningcrieswereheard,andabovealltheterriblezaou,whichfrommomenttomomentbecamemorefullofmenace。

M。MoulinsawthatiftheycouldnotholdoutuntilthetroopsunderMajorLambotarrived,allwaslost;hethereforetoldVernettosettlethebusinessofthosewhowerebreakinginthedoor,whilehewouldtakechargeofthosewhoweretryingtogetinatthewindow。

Thusthesetwomen,movedbyacommonimpulseandofequalcourage,undertooktodisputewithahowlingmobthepossessionofthebloodforwhichitthirsted。

Bothdashedtotheirposts,oneinthehall,theotherinthedining—room,andfounddoorandwindowsalreadysmashed,andseveralmeninthehouse。AtthesightofVernet,withwhoseimmensestrengththeywereacquainted,thoseinthehalldrewbackastep,andVernet,takingadvantageofthismovement,succeededinejectingthemandinsecuringthedooroncemore。MeantimeM。Moulin,seizinghisdouble—barrelledgun,whichstoodinthechimney—corner,pointeditatfivemenwhohadgotintothedining—room,andthreatenedtofireiftheydidnotinstantlygetoutagain。Fourobeyed,butonerefusedtobudge;whereuponMoulin,findinghimselfnolongeroutnumbered,laidasidehisgun,and,seizinghisadversaryroundthewaist,liftedhimasifhewereachildandflunghimoutofthewindow。Themandiedthreeweekslater,notfromthefallbutfromthesqueeze。

Moulinthendashedtothewindowtosecureit,butashelaidhishandonithefelthisheadseizedfrombehindandpressedviolentlydownonhisleftshoulder;atthesameinstantapanewasbrokenintosplinters,andtheheadofahatchetstruckhisrightshoulder。

M。deSaint—Chamans,whohadfollowedhimintotheroom,hadseentheweaponthrownatMoulin\'shead,andnotbeingabletoturnasidetheiron,hadturnedasidetheobjectatwhichitwasaimed。Moulinseizedthehatchetbythehandleandtoreitoutofthehandsofhimwhohaddeliveredtheblow,whichfortunatelyhadmisseditsaim。Hethenfinishedclosingthewindow,andsecureditbymakingfasttheinsideshutters,andwentupstairstoseeafterthemarshal。

Himhefoundstridingupanddownhisroom,hishandsomeandnoblefaceascalmasifthevoicesofallthoseshoutingmenoutsidewerenotdemandinghisdeath。MoulinmadehimleaveNo。1forNo。3,which,beingabackroomandlookingoutonthecourtyard,seemedtooffermorechancesofsafetythantheother。Themarshalaskedforwritingmaterials,whichMoulinbrought,whereuponthemarshalsatdownatalittletableandbegantowrite。

Justthenthecriesoutsidebecamestillmoreuproarious。M。deSaint—Chamanshadgoneoutandorderedthecrowdtodisperse,whereuponathousandpeoplehadansweredhimwithonevoice,askingwhohewasthatheshouldgivesuchanorder。Heannouncedhisrankandauthority,towhichtheanswerwas,"Weonlyknowtheprefectbyhisclothes。"NowithadunfortunatelyhappenedthatM。deChamanshavingsenthistrunksbydiligencetheyhadnotyetarrived,andbeingdressedinagreencoat;nankeentrousers,andapiquevest,itcouldhardlybeexpectedthatinsuchasuitheshouldoverawethepeopleunderthecircumstances;so,whenhegotuponabenchtoharanguethepopulace,criesaroseof"Downwiththegreencoat！Wehaveenoughofcharlatanslikethat！"andhewasforcedtogetdownagain。AsVernetopenedthedoortolethimin,severalmentookadvantageofthecircumstancetopushinalongwithhim;butVernetlethisfistfallthreetimes,andthreemenrolledathisfeetlikebullsstruckbyaclub。Theotherswithdrew。AdozenchampionssuchasVernetwouldhavesavedthemarshal。YetitmustnotbeforgottenthatthismanwasaRoyalist,andheldthesameopinionsasthoseagainstwhomhefought;forhimasforthemthemarshalwasamortalenemy,buthehadanobleheart,andifthemarshalwereguiltyhedesiredatrialandnotamurder。MeantimeacertainonlookerhadheardwhathadbeensaidtoM。deChamansabouthisunofficialcostume,andhadgonetoputonhisuniform。ThiswasM。dePuy,ahandsomeandvenerableoldman,withwhitehair,pleasantexpression,andwinningvoice。Hesooncamebackinhismayor\'srobes,wearinghisscarfandhisdoublecrossofSt。LouisandtheLegionofHonour。

Butneitherhisagenorhisdignitymadetheslightestimpressiononthesepeople;theydidnotevenallowhimtogetbacktothehoteldoor,butknockedhimdownandtrampledhimunderfoot,sothathehardlyescapedwithtornclothesandhiswhitehaircoveredwithdustandblood。Thefuryofthemobhadnowreacheditsheight。

AtthisjuncturethegarrisonofAvignoncameinsight;itwascomposedoffourhundredvolunteers,whoformedabattalionknownastheRoyalAngouleme。ItwascommandedbyamanwhohadassumedthetitleofLieutenant—GeneraloftheEmancipatingArmyofVaucluse。

Theseforcesdrewupunderthewindowsofthe"PalaisRoyal。"TheywerecomposedalmostentirelyofProvenceaux,andspokethesamedialectasthepeopleofthelowerorders。Thecrowdaskedthesoldiersforwhattheyhadcome,whytheydidnotleavethemtoaccomplishanactofjusticeinpeace,andiftheyintendedtointerfere。"Quitethecontrary,"saidoneofthesoldiers;"pitchhimoutofthewindow,andwewillcatchhimonthepointsofourbayonets。"Brutalcriesofjoygreetedthisanswer,succeededbyashortsilence,butitwaseasytoseethatundertheapparentcalmthecrowdwasinastateofeagerexpectation。Soonnewshoutswereheard,butthistimefromtheinteriorofthehotel;asmallbandofmenledbyForgesandRoqueforthadseparatedthemselvesfromthethrong,andbythehelpofladdershadscaledthewallsandgotontheroofofthehouse,and,glidingdowntheotherside,haddroppedintothebalconyoutsidethewindowsoftheroomswherethemarshalwaswriting。

Someofthesedashedthroughthewindowswithoutwaitingtoopenthem,othersrushedinattheopendoor。Themarshal,thustakenbysurprise,rose,andnotwishingthattheletterhewaswritingtotheAustriancommandanttoclaimhisprotectionshouldfallintothehandsofthesewretches,hetoreittopieces。Thenamanwhobelongedtoabetterclassthantheothers,andwhowearsto—daytheCrossoftheLegionofHonour,grantedtohimperhapsforhisconductonthisoccasion,advancedtowardsthemarshal,swordinhand,andtoldhimifhehadanylastarrangementstomake,heshouldmakethematonce,forhehadonlytenminutestolive。

"Whatareyouthinkingof？"exclaimedForges。"Tenminutes！DidhegivethePrincessedeLamballetenminutes？"andhepointedhispistolatthemarshal\'sbreast;butthemarshalstrikinguptheweapon,theshotmisseditsaimandburieditselfintheceiling。

"Clumsyfellow！"saidthemarshal,shrugginghisshoulders,"nottobeabletokillamanatsuchcloserange。"

"That\'strue,"repliedRoquefortinhispatois。"I\'llshowyouhowtodoit";and,recedingastep,hetookaimwithhiscarbineathisvictim,whosebackwaspartlytowardshim。Areportwasheard,andthemarshalfelldeadonthespot,thebulletwhichenteredattheshouldergoingrightthroughhisbodyandstrikingtheoppositewall。

Thetwoshots,whichhadbeenheardinthestreet,madethehowlingmobdanceforjoy。Onecowardlyfellow,calledCadillan,rushedoutononeofthebalconieswhichlookedonthesquare,and,holdingaloadedpistolineachhand,whichhehadnotdaredtodischargeevenintothedeadbodyofthemurderedman,hecutacaper,and,holdinguptheinnocentweapons,calledout,"Thesehavedonethebusiness！"

Buthelied,thebraggart,andboastedofacrimewhichwascommittedbybravercutthroatsthanhe。

Behindhimcamethegeneralofthe"EmancipatingArmyofVaucluse,"

who,graciouslysalutingthecrowd,said,"Themarshalhascarriedoutanactofjusticebytakinghisownlife。"Shoutsofmingledjoy,revenge,andhatredrosefromthecrowd,andtheking\'sattorneyandtheexaminingmagistratesetaboutdrawingupareportofthesuicide。

Nowthatallwasoverandtherewasnolongeranyquestionofsavingthemarshal,M。Moulindesiredatleasttosavethevaluableswhichhehadinhiscarriage。Hefoundinacashbox40,000francs,inthepocketsasnuff—boxsetwithdiamonds,andapairofpistolsandtwoswords;thehiltofoneoftheselatterwasstuddedwithpreciousstones,agiftfromtheill—starredSelim。M。Moulinreturnedacrossthecourt,carryingthesethings。TheDamascusbladewaswrenchedfromhishands,andtherobberkeptitfiveyearsasatrophy,anditwasnotuntiltheyear1820thathewasforcedtogiveituptotherepresentativeofthemarshal\'swidow。Yetthismanwasanofficer,andkepthisrankallthroughtheRestoration,andwasnotdismissedthearmytill1830。WhenM。Moulinhadplacedtheotherobjectsinsafety,herequestedthemagistratetohavethecorpseremoved,ashewishedthecrowdstodisperse,thathemightlookaftertheaides—decamp。Whiletheywereundressingthemarshal,inordertocertifythecauseofdeath,aleathernbeltwasfoundonhimcontaining5536

francs。Thebodywascarrieddownstairsbythegrave—diggerswithoutanyoppositionbeingoffered,buthardlyhadtheyadvancedtenyardsintothesquarewhenshoutsof"TotheRhone！totheRhone！"

resoundedonallsides。Apoliceofficerwhotriedtointerferewasknockeddown,thebearerswereorderedtoturnround;theyobeyed,andthecrowdcarriedthemofftowardsthewoodenbridge。Whenthefourteentharchwasreached,thebierwastornfromthebearers\'

hands,andthecorpsewasflungintotheriver。"Militaryhonours！"

shoutedsomeone,andallwhohadgunsfiredatthedeadbody,whichwastwicestruck。"TombofMarshalBrune"wasthenwrittenonthearch,andthecrowdwithdrew,andpassedtherestofthedayinholiday—making。

MeanwhiletheRhone,refusingtobeanaccompliceinsuchacrime,boreawaythecorpse,whichtheassassinsbelievedhadbeenswallowedupforever。NextdayitwasfoundonthesandyshoreatTarascon,butthenewsofthemurderhadprecededit,anditwasrecognisedbythewounds,andpushedbackagainintothewaters,whichboreittowardsthesea。

Threeleaguesfartheronitstoppedagain,thistimebyagrassybank,andwasfoundbyamanoffortyandanotherofeighteen。Theyalsorecognisedit,butinsteadofshovingitbackintothecurrent,theydrewitupgentlyonthebankandcarriedittoasmallpropertybelongingtooneofthem,wheretheyreverentlyinterredit。TheelderofthetwowasM。deChartruse,theyoungerM。AmedeePichot。

Thebodywasexhumedbyorderofthemarshal\'swidow,andbroughttohercastleofSaint—Just,inChampagne;shehaditembalmed,andplacedinabedroomadjoiningherown,whereitremained,coveredonlybyaveil,untilthememoryofthedeceasedwascleansedfromtheaccusationofsuicidebyasolemnpublictrialandjudgment。

Thenonlyitwasfinallyinterred,alongwiththeparchmentcontainingthedecisionoftheCourtofRiom。

TheruffianswhokilledMarshalBrune,althoughtheyevadedthejusticeofmen,didnotescapethevengeanceofGod:nearlyeveryoneofthemcametoamiserableend。RoquefortandFargeswereattackedbystrangeandhithertounknowndiseases,recallingtheplaguessentbyGodonthepeopleswhomHedesiredtopunishinbygoneages。InthecaseofFarges,hisskindriedupandbecamehorny,causinghimsuchintenseirritation,thatastheonlymeansofallayingithehadtobekeptburieduptotheneckwhilestillalive。ThediseaseunderwhichRoquefortsufferedseemedtohaveitsseatinthemarrow,forhisbonesbydegreeslostallsolidityandpowerofresistance,sothathislimbsrefusedtobearhisweight,andhewentaboutthestreetscrawlinglikeaserpent。Bothdiedinsuchdreadfultorturethattheyregrettedhavingescapedthescaffold,whichwouldhavesparedthemsuchprolongedagony。

Pointuwascondemnedtodeath,inhisabsence,attheAssizesCourtofLaDrome,forhavingmurderedfivepeople,andwascastoffbyhisownfaction。Forsometimehiswife,whowasinfirmanddeformed,mightbeseengoingfromhousetohouseaskingalmsforhim,whohadbeenfortwomonthsthearbiterofcivilwarandassassination。Thencameadaywhensheceasedherquest,andwasseensitting,herheadcoveredbyablackrag:Pointuwasdead,butitwasneverknownwhereorhow。Insomecorner,probably,inthecreviceofarockorintheheartoftheforest,likeanoldtigerwhosetalonshavebeenclippedandhisteethdrawn。

NaudaudandMagnanweresentencedtothegalleysfortenyears。

Naudauddiedthere,butMagnanfinishedhistimeandthenbecameascavenger,and,faithfultohisvocationasadealerofdeath,apoisonerofstraydogs。

Someofthesecut—throatsarestillliving,andfillgoodpositions,wearingcrossesandepaulets,and,rejoicingintheirimpunity,imaginetheyhaveescapedtheeyeofGod。

Weshallwaitandsee！

CHAPTERIX

ItwasonSaturdaythatthewhiteflagwashoistedatNimes。ThenextdayacrowdofCatholicpeasantsfromtheenvironsmarchedintothecity,toawaitthearrivaloftheRoyalistarmyfromBeaucaire。

Excitementwasatfeverheat,thedesireofrevengefilledeverybreast,thehereditaryhatredwhichhadslumberedduringtheEmpireagainawokestrongerthanever。HereImaypausetosaythatintheaccountwhichfollowsoftheeventswhichtookplaceaboutthistime,Icanonlyguaranteethefactsandnotthedates:Irelateeverythingasithappened;butthedayonwhichithappenedmaysometimeshaveescapedmymemory,foritiseasiertorecollectamurdertowhichonehasbeenaneye—witness,thantorecalltheexactdateonwhichithappened。

ThegarrisonofNimeswascomposedofonebattalionofthe13thRegimentoftheline,andanotherbattalionofthe79thRegiment,whichnotbeinguptoitsfullwar—strengthhadbeensenttoNimestocompleteitsnumbersbyenlistment。ButafterthebattleofWaterloothecitizenshadtriedtoinducethesoldierstodesert,sothatofthetwobattalions,evencountingtheofficers,onlyabouttwohundredmenremained。

WhenthenewsoftheproclamationofNapoleonIIreachedNimes,Brigadier—GeneralMalmont,commandantofthedepartment,hadhimproclaimedinthecitywithoutanydisturbancebeingcausedthereby。

ItwasnotuntilsomedayslaterthatareportbegantobecirculatedthataroyalarmywasgatheringatBeaucaire,andthatthepopulacewouldtakeadvantageofitsarrivaltoindulgeinexcesses。Inthefaceofthistwo—folddanger,GeneralMalmonthadorderedtheregulartroops,andapartoftheNationalGuardoftheHundredDays,tobedrawnupunderarmsintherearofthebarracksuponaneminenceonwhichhehadmountedfivepiecesofordnance。Thisdispositionwasmaintainedfortwodaysandanight,butasthepopulaceremainedquiet,thetroopsreturnedtothebarracksandtheGuardstotheirhomes。