第17章

ButonMondayaconcourseofpeople,whohadheardthatthearmyfromBeaucairewouldarrivethenextday,madeahostiledemonstrationbeforethebarracks,demandingwithshoutsandthreatsthatthefivecannonsshouldbehandedovertothem。Thegeneralandtheofficerswhowerequarteredinthetown,hearingofthetumult,repairedatoncetothebarracks,butsooncameoutagain,andapproachingthecrowdtriedtopersuadeittodisperse,towhichtheonlyanswertheyreceivedwasashowerofbullets。Convincedbythis,ashewaswellacquaintedwiththecharacterofthepeoplewithwhomhehadtodeal,thatthestrugglehadbeguninearnestandmustbefoughtouttothebitterend,thegeneralretreatedwithhisofficers,stepbystep,tothebarracks,andhavinggotinsidethegates,closedandboltedthem。

Hethendecidedthatitwashisdutytorepulseforcebyforce,foreveryonewasdeterminedtodefend,atnomatterwhatcost,apositionwhich,fromthefirstmomentofrevolt,wasfraughtwithsuchperil。

So,withoutwaitingfororders,thesoldiers,seeingthatsomeoftheirwindowshadbeenbrokenbyshotsfromwithout,returnedthefire,and,beingbettermarksmenthanthetownspeople,soonlaidmanylow。Uponthisthealarmedcrowdretiredoutofmusketrange,andentrenchedthemselvesinsomeneighbouringhouses。

Aboutnineo\'clockintheevening,amanbearingsomethingresemblingawhiteflagapproachedthewallsandaskedtospeaktothegeneral。

HebroughtamessageinquiringonwhattermsthetroopswouldconsenttoevacuateNimes。Thegeneralsentbackwordthattheconditionswere,thatthetroopsshouldbeallowedtomarchoutfullyarmedandwithailtheirbaggage;thefivegunsalonewouldbeleftbehind。

Whentheforcesreachedacertainvalleyoutsidethecitytheywouldhalt,thatthemenmightbesuppliedwithmeanssufficienttoenablethemeithertorejointheregimentstowhichtheybelonged,ortoreturntotheirownhomes。

Attwoo\'clockA。M。thesameenvoyreturned,andannouncedtothegeneralthattheconditionshadbeenacceptedwithonealteration,whichwasthatthetroops,beforemarchingout,shouldlaydowntheirarms。Themessengeralsointimatedthatiftheofferhehadbroughtwerenotquicklyaccepted——saywithintwohours——thetimeforcapitulationwouldhavegoneby,andthathewouldnotbeanswerableforwhatthepeoplemightthendointheirfury。Thegeneralacceptedtheconditionsasamended,andtheenvoydisappeared。

Whenthetroopsheardoftheagreement,thattheyshouldbedisarmedbeforebeingallowedtoleavethetown,theirfirstimpulsewastorefusetolaydowntheirweaponsbeforearabblewhichhadrunawayfromafewmusketshots;butthegeneralsucceededinsoothingtheirsenseofhumiliationandwinningtheirconsentbyrepresentingtothemthattherecouldbenothingdishonourableinanactionwhichpreventedthechildrenofacommonfatherlandfromsheddingeachother\'sblood。

Thegendarmerie,accordingtoonearticleofthetreaty,weretocloseinat,therearoftheevacuatingcolumn;andthushinderthepopulacefrommolestingthetroopsofwhichitwascomposed。Thiswastheonlyconcessionobtainedinreturnfortheabandonedarms,andthefarceinquestionwasalreadydrawnupinfieldorder,apparentlywaitingtoescortthetroopsoutofthecity。

Atfouro\'clockP。M。thetroopsgotready,eachcompanystackingitsarmsinthecourtyardbefore:marchingout;buthardlyhadfortyorfiftymenpassedthegatesthanfirewasopenedonthematsuchcloserangethathalfofthemwerekilledordisabledatthefirstvolley。

Uponthis,thosewhowerestillwithinthewallsclosedthecourtyardgates,thuscuttingoffallchanceofretreatfromtheircomrades。

Intheevent;however,itturnedoutthatseveralofthelattercontrivedtoescapewiththeirlivesandthattheylostnothingthroughbeingpreventedfromreturning;forassoonasthemobsawthattenortwelveoftheirvictimshadslippedthroughtheirhandstheymadeafuriousattackonthebarracks,burstinthegates,andscaledthewallswithsuchrapidity,thatthesoldiershadnotimetorepossessthemselvesoftheirmuskets,andevenhadtheysucceededinseizingthemtheywouldhavebeenoflittleuse,asammunitionwastotallywanting。Thebarracksbeingthuscarriedbyassault,ahorriblemassacreensued,whichlastedforthreehours。Someofthewretchedmen,beinghuntedfromroomtoroom,jumpedoutofthefirstwindowtheycouldreach,withoutstoppingtomeasureitsheightfromtheground,andwereeitherimpaledonthebayonetsheldinreadinessbelow,or,fallingonthepavement,broketheirlimbsandwerepitilesslydespatched。

Thegendarmes,whohadreallybeencalledouttoprotecttheretreatofthegarrison,seemedtoimaginetheyweretheretowitnessajudicialexecution,andstoodimmovableandimpassivewhilethesehorriddeedswentonbeforetheireyes。Butthepenaltyofthisindifferencewasswiftlyexacted,forassoonasthesoldierswerealldonewith,themob,findingtheirthirstforbloodstillunslacked,turnedonthegendarmes,thegreaternumberofwhomwerewounded,whilealllosttheirhorses,andsometheirlives。

ThepopulacewasstillengagedatitsbloodytaskwhennewscamethatthearmyfromBeaucairewaswithinsightofthetown,andthemurderers,hasteningtodespatchsomeofthewoundedwhostillshowedsignsoflife,wentforthtomeetthelongexpectedreinforcements。

Onlythosewhosawtheadvancingarmywiththeirowneyescanformanyideaofitsconditionandappearance,thefirstcorpsexcepted。

ThiscorpswascommandedbyM。deBarre,whohadputhimselfatitsheadwiththenoblepurposeofpreventing,asfarashecould,massacreandpillage。Inthishewassecondedbytheofficersunderhim,whowereactuatedbythesamephilanthropicmotivesastheirgeneralinidentifyingthemselveswiththecorps。Owingtotheirexertions,themenadvancedinfairlyregularorder,andgooddisciplinewasmaintained。Allthemencarriedmuskets。

Butthefirstcorpswasonlyakindofvanguardtothesecond,whichwastherealarmy,andawonderfulthingtoseeandhear。Neverwerebroughttogetherbeforeorsincesomanydifferentkindsofhowl,somanythreatsofdeath,somanyrags;somanyoddweapons,fromthematchlockofthetimeoftheMicheladetothesteel—tippedgoadofthebullockdroversofLaCamargue,sothatwhentheNimesmob;whichinallconsciencewashowlingandraggedenough,rushedouttoofferabrotherlywelcometothestrangers,itsfirstfeelingwasoneofastonishmentanddismayasitcaughtsightofthemotleycrewwhichheldouttoittherighthandoffellowship。

Thenew—comerssoonshowedthatitwasthroughnecessityandnotchoicethattheiroutermanpresentedsuchadisreputableappearance;

fortheywerehardlywellwithinthegatesbeforedemandingthatthehousesofthemembersoftheoldProtestantNationalGuardshouldbepointedouttothem。

Thisbeingdone,theypromptlyproceededtoexactfromeachhouseholdamusket,acoat,acompletekit,orasumofmoney,accordingtotheirhumour,sothatbeforeeveningthosewhohadarrivednakedandpennilesswereprovidedwithcompleteuniformsandhadmoneyintheirpockets。Theseexactionswereleviedunderthenameofacontribution,butbeforethedaywasendednakedandundisguisedpillagebegan。

Someoneassertedthatduringtheassaultonthebarracksacertainindividualhadfiredoutofacertainhouseontheassailants。Theindignantpeoplenowrushedtothehouseindicated,andsoonleftnothingofitinexistencebutitswalls。Alittlelateritwasclearlyprovedthattheindividualaccusedwasquiteinnocentofthecrimelaidtohischarge。

Thehouseofarichmerchantlayinthepathoftheadvancingarmy。

AcryarosethattheownerwasaBonapartist,andnothingmorewasneeded。Thehousewasbrokenintoandpillaged,andthefurniturethrownoutofthewindows。

TwodayslateritturnedoutthatnotonlywasthemerchantnoBonapartist,butthathissonhadbeenoneofthosewhohadaccompaniedtheDucd\'AngoulemetoCettewhenheleftthecountry。

Thepillagersexcusedthemselvesbysayingtheyhadbeenmisledbyaresemblancebetweentwonames,andthisexcuse,asfarasappears,wasacceptedasvalidbytheauthorities。

ItwasnotlongbeforethepopulaceofNimesbegantothinktheymightaswellfollowtheexamplesetthembytheirbrothersfromBeaucaire。Intwenty—fourhoursfreecompanieswereformed,headedbyTrestaillons,Truphe？ny,Graffan,andMorinet。ThesebandsarrogatedtothemselvesthetitleofNationalGuard,andthenwhattookplaceatMarseillesintheexcitementofthemomentwasrepeatedatNimeswithdeliberationandmethod,inspiredbyhateandthedesireofvengeance。Arevoltbrokeoutwhichfollowedtheordinarycourse:firstpillage,thenfire,thenmurder,laidwastethecity。

M。V_____\'shouse,whichstoodinthemiddleofthetown,wassackedandthenburnttotheground,withoutahandbeingraisedtopreventthecrime。

M。T_____\'shouse,ontheroadtoMontpellier,wassackedandwreckedandabonfiremadeofthefurniture,roundwhichthecrowddanced;asifithadbeenanoccasionofpublicrejoicing。Thencrieswereraisedfortheproprietor,thathemightbekilled,andashecouldnotbefoundthebaffledfuryofthemobventeditselfonthedead。

Achildthreemonthsburiedwasdraggedfromitsgrave,drawnbythefeetthroughthesewersandwaysidepuddles,andthenflungonadung—heap;and,strangetosay,whileincendiarismandsacrilegethusranriot,themayoroftheplacesleptsosoundthatwhenheawokehewas"quiteastonished,"tousehisownexpression,tohearwhathadtakenplaceduringthenight。

Thisexpeditioncompleted,thesamecompanywhichhadbroughtthisexpeditiontoasuccessfulissuenextturnedtheirattentiontoasmallcountryhouseoccupiedbyawidow,whomIhadoftenbeggedtotakerefugewithus。But,secureinherinsignificance,shehadalwaysdeclinedouroffers,preferringtolivesolitaryandretiredinherownhome。Butthefreebooterssoughtherout,burstinherdoors,droveherawaywithblowsandinsults,destroyedherhouseandburntherfurniture。Theythenproceededtothevaultinwhichlaytheremainsofherfamily,draggedthemoutoftheircoffinsandscatteredthemaboutthefields。Thenextdaythepoorwoman—venturedback,collectedthedesecratedremainswithpiouscare,andreplacedtheminthevault。Butthiswascountedtoherasacrime;thecompanyreturned,oncemorecastforththecontentsofthecoffins,andthreatenedtokillhershouldshedaretotouchthemagain。Shewasoftenseeninthedaysthatfollowedsheddingbittertearsandwatchingoverthesacredrelicsastheylayexposedontheground。

ThenameofthiswidowwasPepin,andthesceneofthesacrilegewasasmallenclosureonthehilloftheMoulins—a—Vent。

MeantimethepeopleintheFaubourgdesBourgadeshadinventedanewsortofgame,orrather,hadresolvedtovarytheseriousbusinessofthedramathatwasbeingenactedbytheintroductionofcomicscenes。

Theyhadpossessedthemselvesofanumberofbeetlessuchaswasherwomenuse,andhammeredinlongnails,thepointsofwhichprojectedaninchontheothersideintheformofafleur—de—lis。

EveryProtestantwhofellintotheirhands,nomatterwhathisageorrank,wasstampedwiththebloodyemblem,seriouswoundsbeinginflictedinmanycases。

Murderswerenowbecomingcommon。AmongstothernamesofvictimsmentionedwereLoriol,Bigot,Dumas,Lhermet,Heritier,Domaison,Combe,Clairon,Begomet,Poujas,Imbert,Vigal,Pourchet,Vignole。

Detailsmoreorlessshockingcametolightastothemannerinwhichthemurdererswenttowork。AmancalledDalboswasinthecustodyoftwoarmedmen;someotherscametoconsultwiththem。Dalbosappealedformercytothenew—comers。Itwasgranted,butasheturnedtogohewasshotdead。AnotherofthenameofRamberttriedtoescapebydisguisinghimselfasawoman,butwasrecognisedandshotdownafewyardsoutsidehisowndoor。AgunnercalledSaussinewaswalkinginallsecurityalongtheroadtoUzes,pipeinmouth,whenhewasmetbyfivemenbelongingtoTrestaillon\'scompany,whosurroundedhimandstabbedhimtotheheartwiththeirknives。TheelderoftwobrothersnamedChivasranacrosssomefieldstotakeshelterinacountryhousecalledRouviere,which,unknowntohim,hadbeenoccupiedbysomeofthenewNationalGuard。Thesemethimonthethresholdandshothimdead。

Rantwasseizedinhisownhouseandshot。Closwasmetbyacompany,andseeingTrestaillons,withwhomhehadalwaysbeenfriends,initsranks,hewentuptohimandheldouthishand;

whereuponTrestaillonsdrewapistolfromhisbeltandblewhisbrainsout。CalandrebeingchaseddowntheruedesSoeurs—Grises,soughtshelterinatavern,butwasforcedtocomeout,andwaskilledwithsabres。Courbetwassenttoprisonundertheescortofsomemen,butthesechangedtheirmindsonthewayastohispunishment,halted,andshothimdeadinthemiddleofthestreet。

AwinemerchantcalledCabanot,whowasflyingfromTrestaillons,ranintoahouseinwhichtherewasavenerablepriestcalledCureBonhomme。Whenthecut—throatrushedin,allcoveredwithblood,thepriestadvancedandstoppedhim,crying:

"Whatwillhappen,unhappyman,whenyoucometotheconfessionalwithblood—stainedhands？"

"Pooh！"repliedTrestaillons,"youmustputonyourwidegown;thesleevesarelargeenoughtoleteverythingpass。"

TotheshortaccountgivenaboveofsomanymurdersIwilladdthenarrativeofonetowhichIwasaneye—witness,andwhichmadethemostterribleimpressiononmeof,anythinginmyexperience。

Itwasmidnight。Iwasworkingbesidemywife\'sbed;shewasjustbecomingdrowsy,whenanoiseinthedistancecaughtourattention。

Itgraduallybecamemoredistinct,anddrumsbegantobeatthe\'generale\'ineverydirection。Hidingmyownalarmforfearofincreasinghers,Iansweredmywife,whowasaskingwhatnewthingwasabouttohappen,thatitwasprobablytroopsmarchinginoroutofgarrison。Butsoonreportsoffirearms,accompaniedbyanuproarwithwhichweweresofamiliarthatwecouldnolongermistakeitsmeaning,wereheardoutside。Openingmywindow,Iheardbloodcurdlingimprecations,mixedwithcriesof"Longlivetheking！"

goingon。Notbeingabletoremainanylongerinthisuncertainty,I

wokeacaptainwholivedinthesamehouse。Herose,tookhisarms,andwewentouttogether,directingourcoursetowardsthepointwhencetheshoutsseemedtocome。Themoonshonesobrightthatwecouldseeeverythingalmostasdistinctlyasinbroaddaylight。

AconcourseofpeoplewashurryingtowardstheCoursyellinglikemadmen;thegreaternumberofthem,halfnaked,armedwithmuskets,swords,knives,andclubs,andswearingtoexterminateeverything,wavedtheirweaponsabovetheheadsofmenwhohadevidentlybeentornfromtheirhousesandbroughttothesquaretobeputtodeath。

Therestofthecrowdhad,likeourselves,beendrawnthitherbycuriosity,andwereaskingwhatwasgoingon。"Murderisabroad,"

wastheanswer;"severalpeoplehavebeenkilledintheenvirons,andthepatrolhasbeenfiredon。"Whilethisquestioningwasgoingonthenoisecontinuedtoincrease。AsIhadreallynobusinesstobeonaspotwheresuchthingsweregoingon,andfeelingthatmyplacewasatmywife\'sside,toreassureherforthepresentandtowatchoverhershouldtherioterscomeourway,Isaidgood—byetothecaptain,whowentontothebarracks,andtooktheroadbacktothesuburbinwhichIlived。

IwasnotmorethanfiftystepsfromourhousewhenIheardloudtalkingbehindme,and,turning,sawgunbarrelsglitteringinthemoonlight。Asthespeakersseemedtoberapidlyapproachingme,I

keptcloseintheshadowofthehousestillIreachedmyowndoor,whichIlaidsoftlytobehindme,leavingmyselfachinkbywhichI

couldpeepoutandwatchthemovementsofthegroupwhichwasdrawingnear。SuddenlyIfeltsomethingtouchmyhand;itwasagreatCorsicandog,whichwasturnedlooseatnight,andwassofiercethatitwasagreatprotectiontoourhouse。Ifeltgladtohaveitatmyside,forincaseofastruggleitwouldbenodespicableally。

Thoseapproachingturnedouttobethreearmedmenleadingafourth,disarmedandaprisoner。Theyallstoppedjustoppositemydoor,whichIgentlyclosedandlocked,butasIstillwishedtoseewhattheywereabout,Islippedintothegarden,whichlaytowardsthestreet,stillfollowedbymydog。Contrarytohishabit,andasifheunderstoodthedanger,hegavealowwhineinsteadofhisusualsavagegrowl。Iclimbedintoafigtreethebranchesofwhichoverhungthestreet,and,hiddenbytheleaves,andrestingmyhandsonthetopofthewall,Ileanedfarenoughforwardtoseewhatthemenwereabout。

Theywerestillonthesamespot,buttherewasachangeintheirpositions。Theprisonerwasnowkneelingwithclaspedhandsbeforethecut—throats,beggingforhislifeforthesakeofhiswifeandchildren,inheartrendingaccents,towhichhisexecutionersrepliedinmockingtones,"Wehavegotyouatlastintoourhands,havewe？

YoudogofaBonapartist,whydoyounotcallonyouremperortocomeandhelpyououtofthisscrape？"Theunfortunateman\'sentreatiesbecamemorepitifulandtheirmockingrepliesmorepitiless。Theylevelledtheirmusketsathimseveraltimes,andthenloweredthem,saying;"Deviltakeit,wewon\'tshootyet;letusgivehimtimetoseedeathcoming,"tillatlastthepoorwretch,seeingtherewasnohopeofmercy,beggedtobeputoutofhismisery。

Dropsofsweatstoodonmyforehead。IfeltmypocketstoseeifI

hadnothingonmewhichIcoulduseasaweapon,butIhadnotevenaknife。Ilookedatmydog;hewaslyingflatatthefootofthetree,andappearedtobeapreytothemostabjectterror。Theprisonercontinuedhissupplications,andtheassassinstheirthreatsandmockery。Iclimbedquietlydownoutofthefigtree,intendingtofetchmypistols。Mydogfollowedmewithhiseyes,whichseemedtobetheonlylivingthingsabouthim。Justasmyfoottouchedthegroundadoublereportrangout,andmydoggaveaplaintiveandprolongedhowl。Feelingthatallwasover,andthatnoweaponscouldbeofanyuse,Iclimbedupagainintomyperchandlookedout。Thepoorwretchwaslyingfacedownwardswrithinginhisblood;theassassinswerereloadingtheirmusketsastheywalkedaway。

BeinganxioustoseeifitwastoolatetohelpthemanwhomIhadnotbeenabletosave,Iwentoutintothestreetandbentoverhim。

Hewasbloody,disfigured,dying,butwasyetalive,utteringdismalgroans。Itriedtolifthimup,butsoonsawthatthewoundswhichhehadreceivedfrombulletsfiredatcloserangewerebothmortal,onebeinginthehead,andtheotherintheloins。Justthenapatrol,oftheNationalGuardturnedroundthecornerofthestreet。

This,insteadofbeingarelief,awokemetoasenseofmydanger,andfeelingIcoulddonothingforthewoundedman,forthedeathrattlehadalreadybegun,Ienteredmyhouse,halfshutthedoor,andlistened。

"Quivive？"askedthecorporal。

"Idiot！"saidsomeoneelse,"toask\'Quivive？\'ofadeadman！"

"Heisnotdead,"saidathirdvoice;"listentohimsinging";andindeedthepoorfellowinhisagonywasgivingutterancetodreadfulgroans。

"Someonehastickledhimwell,"saidafourth,"butwhatdoesitmatter？Wehadbetterfinishthejob。"

Fiveorsixmusketshotsfollowed,andthegroansceased。

ThenameofthemanwhohadjustexpiredwasLouisLichaire;itwasnotagainsthim,butagainsthisnephew,thattheassassinshadhadagrudge,butfindingthenephewoutwhentheyburstintothehouse,andavictimbeingindispensable,theyhadtorntheunclefromthearmsofhiswife,and,dragginghimtowardsthecitadel,hadkilledhimasIhavejustrelated。

VeryearlynextmorningIsenttothreecommissionersofpolice,oneaftertheother,forpermissiontohavethecorpsecarriedtothehospital,butthesegentlemenwereeithernotuporhadalreadygoneout,sothatitwasnotuntileleveno\'clockandafterrepeatedapplicationsthattheycondescendedtogivemetheneededauthorisation。

Thankstothisdelay,thewholetowncametoseethebodyoftheunfortunateman。Indeed,thedaywhichfollowedamassacrewasalwayskeptasaholiday,everyoneleavinghisworkundoneandcomingouttostareattheslaughteredvictims。Inthiscase,amanwishingtoamusethecrowdtookhispipeoutofhismouthandputitbetweentheteethofthecorpse——ajokewhichhadamarvelloussuccess,thosepresentshriekingwithlaughter。

Manymurdershadbeencommittedduringthenight;thecompanieshadscouredthestreetssingingsomedoggerel,whichoneofthebloodywretches,beinginpoeticvein,hadcomposed,thechorusofwhichwas——,"Ourwork\'swelldone,Wesparenone！"

Seventeenfataloutrageswerecommitted,andyetneitherthereportsofthefirearmsnorthecriesofthevictimsbrokethepeacefulslumbersofM,lePrefetandM。leCommissaireGeneraldelaPolice。

Butifthecivilauthoritiesslept,GeneralLagarde,whohadshortlybeforecometotowntotakecommandofthecityinthenameoftheking,wasawake。Hehadsprungfromhisbedatthefirstshot,dressedhimself,andmadearoundoftheposts;thensurethateverythingwasinorder,hehadformedpatrolsofchasseurs,andhadhimself,accompaniedbytwoofficersonly,gonewhereverheheardcriesforhelp。Butinspiteofthestrictnessofhisordersthesmallnumberoftroopsathisdispositiondelayedthesuccessofhisefforts,anditwasnotuntilthreeo\'clockinthemorningthathesucceededinsecuringTrestaillons。WhenthismanwastakenhewasdressedasusualintheuniformoftheNationalGuard,withacockedhatandcaptain\'sepaulets。GeneralLagardeorderedthegensd\'armeswhomadethecapturetodeprivehimofhisswordandcarbine,butitwasonlyafteralongstrugglethattheycouldcarryoutthisorder,forTrestaillonsprotestedthathewouldonlygiveuphiscarbinewithhislife。However,hewasatlastobligedtoyieldtonumbers,andwhendisarmedwasremovedtothebarracks;butastherecouldbenopeaceinthetownaslongashewasinit,thegeneralsenthimtothecitadelofMontpelliernextmorningbeforeitwaslight。

Thedisordersdidnot,however,ceaseatonce。Ateighto\'clockA。M。

theywerestillgoingon,themobseemingtobeanimatedbythespiritofTrestaillons,forwhilethesoldierswereoccupiedinadistantquarterofthetownascoreofmenbrokeintothehouseofacertainScipionChabrier,whohadremainedhiddenfromhisenemiesforalongtime,butwhohadlatelyreturnedhomeonthestrengthoftheproclamationspublishedbyGeneralLagardewhenheassumedthepositionofcommandantofthetown。HehadindeedbeensurethatthedisturbancesinNimeswereover,whentheyburstoutwithredoubledfuryonthe16thofOctober;onthemorningofthe17thhewasworkingquietlyathomeathistradeofasilkweaver,when,alarmedbytheshoutsofaparcelofcut—throatsoutsidehishouse,hetriedtoescape。Hesucceededinreachingthe"Couped\'Or,"buttheruffiansfollowedhim,andthefirstwhocameupthrusthimthroughthethighwithhisbayonet。Inconsequenceofthiswoundhefellfromtoptobottomofthestaircase,wasseizedanddraggedtothestables,wheretheassassinslefthimfordead,withsevenwoundsinhisbody。

Thiswas,however,theonlymurdercommittedthatdayinthetown,thankstothevigilanceandcourageofGeneralLagarde。

Thenextdayaconsiderablecrowdgathered,andanoisydeputationwenttoGeneralLagarde\'squartersandinsolentlydemandedthatTrestaillonsshouldbesetatliberty。Thegeneralorderedthemtodisperse,butnoattentionwaspaidtothiscommand,whereuponheorderedhissoldierstocharge,andinamomentforceaccomplishedwhatlong—continuedpersuasionhadfailedtoeffect。Severaloftheringleaderswerearrestedandtakentoprison。

Thus,asweshallsee,thestruggleassumedanewphase:resistancetotheroyalpowerwasmadeinthenameoftheroyalpower,andboththosewhobrokeorthosewhotriedtomaintainthepublicpeaceusedthesamecry,"Longlivetheking！"

ThefirmattitudeassumedbyGeneralLagarderestoredNimestoastateofsuperficialpeace,beneathwhich,however,theoldenmitieswerefermenting。Anoccultpower,whichbetrayeditselfbyakindofpassiveresistance,neutralisedtheeffectofthemeasurestakenbythemilitarycommandant。Hesoonbecamecognisantofthefactthattheessenceofthissanguinarypoliticalstrifewasanhereditaryreligiousanimosity,andinordertostrikealastblowatthis,heresolved,afterhavingreceivedpermissionfromtheking,tograntthegeneralrequestoftheProtestantsbyreopeningtheirplacesofworship,whichhadbeenclosedformorethanfourmonths,andallowingthepublicexerciseoftheProtestantreligion,whichhadbeenentirelysuspendedinthecityforthesamelengthoftime。

FormerlytherehadbeensixProtestantpastorsresidentinNimes,butfourofthem,hadfled;thetwowhoremainedwereMM。JuilleratandOlivierDesmonts,thefirstayoungman,twenty—eightyearsofage,thesecondanoldmanofseventy。

TheentireweightoftheministryhadfallenduringthisperiodofproscriptiononM。Juillerat,whohadacceptedthetaskandreligiouslyfulfilledit。Itseemedasifaspecialprovidencehadmiraculouslyprotectedhiminthemidstofthemanyperilswhichbesethispath。Althoughtheotherpastor,M。Desmonts,waspresidentoftheConsistory,hislifewasinmuchlessdanger;for,first,hehadreachedanagewhichalmosteverywherecommandsrespect,andthenhehadasonwhowasalieutenantin,oneoftheroyalcorpsleviedatBeaucaire,whoprotectedhimbyhisnamewhenhecouldnotdosobyhispresence。M。DesmontshadthereforelittlecauseforanxietyastohissafetyeitherinthestreetsofNimesorontheroadbetweenthatandhiscountryhouse。

But,aswehavesaid,itwasnotsowithM。Juillerat。Beingyoungandactive,andhavinganunfalteringtrustinGod,onhimalonedevolvedallthesacreddutiesofhisoffice,fromthevisitationofthesickanddyingtothebaptismofthenewlyborn。Theselatterwereoftenbroughttohimatnighttobebaptized,andheconsented,thoughunwillingly,tomakethisconcession,feelingthatifheinsistedontheperformanceoftheritebydayhewouldcompromisenotonlyhisownsafetybutthatofothers。Inallthatconcernedhimpersonally,suchasconsolingthedyingorcaringforthewounded,heactedquiteopenly,andnodangerthatheencounteredonhiswayevercausedhimtoflinchfromthepathofduty。

Oneday,asM。JuilleratwaspassingthroughtheruedesBarquettesonhiswaytotheprefecturetotransactsomebusinessconnectedwithhisministry,hesawseveralmenlyinginwaitinablindalleybywhichhehadtopass。Theyhadtheirgunspointedathim。Hecontinuedhiswaywithtranquilstepandsuchanairofresignationthattheassassinswereoverawed,andloweredtheirweaponsasheapproached,withoutfiringasingleshot。WhenM。Juilleratreachedtheprefecture,thinkingthattheprefectoughttobeawareofeverythingconnectedwiththepublicorder,herelatedthisincidenttoM。d\'Arbaud—Jouques,butthelatterdidnotthinktheaffairofenoughimportancetorequireanyinvestigation。

Itwas,aswillbeseen,adifficultenterprisetoopenonceagaintheProtestantplacesofworship,whichhadbeensolongclosed,inpresentcircumstances,andinfaceofthefactthatthecivilauthoritiesregardedsuchastepwithdisfavour,butGeneralLagardewasoneofthosedeterminedcharacterswhoalwaysactuptotheirconvictions。Moreover,topreparepeople\'smindsforthisstrokeofreligiouspolicy,hereliedonthehelpoftheDucd\'Angouleme,whointhecourseofatourthroughtheSouthwasalmostimmediatelyexpectedatNimes。

Onthe5thofNovembertheprincemadehisentryintothecity,andhavingreadthereportsofthegeneraltotheKingLouisXVIII,andhavingreceivedpositiveinjunctionsfromhisuncletopacifytheunhappyprovinceswhichhewasabouttovisit,hearrivedfullofthedesiretodisplayswhetherhefeltitornot,aperfectimpartiality;

sowhenthedelegatesfromtheConsistorywerepresentedtohim,notonlydidhereceivethemmostgraciously,buthewasthefirsttospeakoftheinterestsoftheirfaith,assuringthemthatitwasonlyafewdayssincehehadlearnedwithmuchregretthattheirreligiousserviceshadbeen;suspendedsincethe16thofJuly。Thedelegatesrepliedthatinsuchatimeofagitationtheclosingoftheirplacesofworshipwas,ameasureofprudencewhichtheyhadfeltoughttobeborne,andwhichhadbeenborne,withresignation。Theprinceexpressedhisapprovalofthisattitudewithregardtothepast,butsaidthathispresencewasaguaranteeforthefuture,andthatonThursdaythe9thinst。thetwomeeting—housesshouldbereopenedandrestoredtotheirproperuse。TheProtestantswerealarmedat,havingafavouraccordedtothemwhichwasmuchmorethantheywouldhavedaredtoaskandforwhichtheywerehardlyprepared。Buttheprincereassuredthembysayingthatallneedfulmeasureswouldbetakentoprovideagainstanybreachofthepublicpeace,andatthesametimeinvitedM。Desmonts,president,andM。Roland—Lacoste,memberoftheConsistory,todinewithhim。

ThenextdeputationtoarrivewasaCatholicone,anditsobjectwastoaskthatTrestaillonsmightbesetatliberty。Theprincewassoindignantatthisrequestthathisonlyanswerwastoturnhisbackonthosewhoprofferedit。