"IhadbeenbroughtintocontactwithhimbyareportwhichoneofmyfriendsandIhaddrawnupontheopinionsofthepeopleoftheSouth,andofwhichhehadaskedtohaveacopy。Inalongconversationwithus,hediscussedthesubjectwiththeimpartialityofamanwhobringsanopenmindtoadebate,andheinvitedustocomeoftentoseehim。Weenjoyedourselvessomuchinhissocietythatwegotintothehabitofgoingtohishousenearlyeveryevening。
  "OnhisarrivalintheSouthanoldcalumnywhichhadformerlypursuedhimagainmadeitsappearance,quiterejuvenatedbyitslongsleep。AwriterwhosenameIhaveforgotten,indescribingtheMassacresoftheSecondofSeptemberandthedeathoftheunfortunatePrincessedeLamballe,hadsaid,'Somepeoplethoughttheyrecognisedinthemanwhocarriedherheadimpaledonapike,GeneralBruneindisguise,'andthisaccusation;whichhadbeencaughtupwitheagernessundertheConsulate,stillfollowedhimsorelentlesslyin1815,thathardlyadaypassedwithouthisreceivingananonymousletter,threateninghimwiththesamefatewhichhadovertakentheprincess。Oneeveningwhilewewerewithhimsuchaletterarrived,andhavingreadithepasseditontous。Itwasasfollows:
  "'Wretch,——Weareacquaintedwithallyourcrimes,forwhichyouwillsoonreceivethechastisementyouwelldeserve。ItwasyouwhoduringtherevolutionbroughtaboutthedeathofthePrincessedeLamballe;itwasyouwhocarriedherheadonapike,butyourheadwillbeimpaledonsomethinglonger。IfyouaresorashastobepresentatthereviewoftheAlliesitisallupwithyou,andyourheadwillbestuckonthesteepleoftheAccoules。Farewell,SCOUNDREL!'
  "Weadvisedhimtotracethiscalumnytoitssource,andthentotakesignalvengeanceontheauthors。Hepausedaninstanttoreflect,andthenlittheletteratacandle,andlookingatitthoughtfullyasitturnedtoashesinhishand,said,——Vengeance!Yes,perhapsbyseekingthatIcouldsilencetheauthorsoftheseslandersandpreservethepublictranquillitywhichtheyconstantlyimperil。ButIpreferpersuasiontoseverity。Myprincipleis,thatitisbettertobringmen'sheadsbacktoarightwayofthinkingthantocutthemoff,andtoberegardedasaweakmanratherthanasabloodthirstyone。'
  "TheessenceofMarshalBrune'scharacterwascontainedinthesewords。
  "PublictranquillitywasindeedtwiceendangeredatMarseillesduringtheHundredDays,andbothtimesinthesamemanner。Thegarrisonofficersusedtogatheratacoffee—houseintheplaceNecker,andsingsongssuggestedbypassingevents。Thiscausedanattackbythetownspeople,whobrokethewindowsbythrowingstones,someofwhichstrucktheofficers。Theserushedout,crying,'Toarms!'Thetownspeoplewerenotslowtorespond,butthecommandantorderedthe'geneydle'tobeat,sentoutnumerouspatrols,andsucceededincalmingtheexcitementandrestoringquietnesswithoutanycasualties。
  "ThedayoftheChampduMaiordersforageneralilluminationweregiven,andthatthetricolourflagshouldbedisplayedfromthewindows。Thegreaternumberoftheinhabitantspaidnoattentiontothedesiresoftheauthorities,andtheofficersbeingannoyedatthisneglect,indulgedinreprehensibleexcesses,which,however,resultedinnothingmareseriousthansomebrokenwindowsbelongingtohouseswhichhadnotilluminated,andinsomeofthehouseholdersbeingforcedtoilluminateaccordingtoorder。
  "InMarseillesasintherestofFrance,peoplebegantodespairofthesuccessoftheroyalcause,andthosewhorepresentedthiscause,whowereverynumerousatMarseilles,gaveupannoyingthemilitaryandseemedtoresignthemselvestotheirfate。MarshalBrunehadleftthecitytotakeuphispostonthefrontier,withoutanyofthedangerswithwhichhewasthreatenedhavingcomeacrosshispath。
  "The25thofJunearrived,andthenewsofthesuccessesobtainedatFleurusandatLignyseemedtojustifythehopesofthesoldiers,when,inthemiddleoftheday,mutteredreportsbegantospreadinthetown,thedistantreverberationsofthecannonofWaterloo。Thesilenceoftheleaders,theuneasinessofthesoldiers,thedelightoftheRoyalists,foretoldtheoutbreakofanewstruggle,the,resultsofwhichitwaseasytoanticipate。Aboutfouro'clockintheafternoon,aman,whohadprobablygotearlierinformationthanhisfellow—townspeople,toreoffhistricolouredcockadeandtrampleditunderfoot,crying,"Longlivetheking!"Theangrysoldiersseizedhimandwereabouttodraghimtotheguard—house,buttheNationalGuardspreventedthem,andtheirinterferenceledtoafight。Shoutswereheardonallsides,alargeringwasformedroundthesoldiers,afewmusketshotsheard,othersanswered,threeorfourmenfell,andlaytherewelteringintheirblood。Outofthisconfuseduproartheword"Waterloo"emergeddistinct;andwiththisunfamiliarnamepronouncedforthefirsttimeintheresoundingvoiceofhistory,thenewsofthedefeatoftheFrencharmyandthetriumphoftheAlliesspreadapace。ThenGeneralVerdier,whoheldthechiefcommandintheabsenceofMarshalBrune,triedtoharanguethepeople,buthisvoicewasdrownedbytheshoutsofthemobwhohadgatheredroundacoffee—housewherestoodabustoftheemperor,whichtheyinsistedshouldbegivenuptothem。Verdier,hopingtocalm,whathetooktobeasimplestreetrow,gaveordersthatthebustshouldbebroughtout,andthisconcession,sosignificantonthepartofageneralcommandingintheemperor'sname,convincedthecrowdthathiscausewaslost。Thefuryofthepopulacegrewgreaternowthattheyfeltthattheycouldindulgeitwithimpunity;theyrantotheTownHall,andtearingdownandburningthetricoloured,raisedthewhiteflag。Therollofthegenerale,theclangofthetocsinwereheard,theneighbouringvillagespouredintheirpopulationsandincreasedthethronginthestreets;singleactsofviolencebegantooccur,wholesalemassacreswereapproaching。IhadarrivedinthetownwithmyfriendM____theverybeginningofthetumult,sowehadseenthedangerousagitationandexcitementgrowunderoureyes,butwewerestillignorantofitstruecause,when,intheruedeNoailles,wemetanacquaintance,who,althoughhispoliticalopinionsdidnotcoincidewithours,hadalwaysshownhimselfveryfriendlytous。'Well,'saidI,'whatnews?''Goodformeandbadforyou,'heanswered;'Iadviseyoutogoawayatonce。'
  Surprisedandsomewhatalarmedatthesewords,webeggedhimtoexplain。'Listen,'saidhe;'therearegoingtoberiotsinthetown;itiswellknownthatyouusedtogotoBrune'snearlyeveryevening,andthatyouareinconsequencenofavouritewithyourneighbours;seeksafetyinthecountry。'Iaddressedsomefurtherquestiontohim,but,turninghisbackonme,heleftmewithoutanotherword。
  "M_____andIwerestilllookingateachotherinstupefaction,whentheincreasinguproararousedustoasensethatifwedesiredtofollowtheadvicejustgivenwehadnotamomenttolose。Wehastenedtomyhouse,whichwassituatedintheAlleesdeMeilhan。Mywifewasjustgoingout,butIstoppedher。
  "'Wearenotsafehere,'Isaid;'wemustgetawayintothecountry。'
  "'Butwherecanwego?'
  "'Whereverlucktakesus。Letusstart。'
  "Shewasgoingtoputonherbonnet,butItoldhertoleaveitbehind;foritwasmostimportantthatnooneshouldthinkwesuspectedanything,butweremerelygoingforastroll。Thisprecautionsavedus,forwelearnedthenextdaythatifourintentiontoflyhadbeensuspectedweshouldhavebeenstopped。
  "Wewalkedatrandom,whilebehindusweheardmusketshotsfromeverypartofthetown。Wemetacompanyofsoldierswhowerehurryingtothereliefoftheircomrades,butheardlaterthattheyhadnotbeenallowedtopassthegate。
  "Werecollectedanoldofficerofouracquaintancewhohadquittedtheserviceandwithdrawnfromtheworldsomeyearsbefore,andhadtakenaplaceinthecountrynearthevillageofSaint—Just;wedirectedourcoursetowardshishouse。
  "'Captain,'saidItohim,'theyaremurderingeachotherinthetown,wearepursuedandwithoutasylum,sowecometoyou。''That'sright,mychildren,'saidhe;'comeinandwelcome。Ihavenevermeddledwithpoliticalaffairs,andnoonecanhaveanythingagainstme。Noonewillthinkoflookingforyouhere。'
  "Thecaptainhadfriendsinthetown,who,oneafteranother,reachedhishouse,andbroughtusnewsofallthatwentonduringthatdreadfulday。Manysoldiershadbeenkilled,andtheMamelukeshadbeenannihilated。Anegresswhohadbeenintheserviceoftheseunfortunateshadbeentakenonthequay。'Cry"Longlivetheking!"'
  shoutedthemob。'No,'shereplied。'ToNapoleonIowemydailybread;longliveNapoleon!'Abayonet—thrustintheabdomenwastheanswer。'Villains!'saidshe,coveringthewoundwithherhandtokeepbacktheprotrudingentrails。'LongliveNapoleon!'Apushsentherintothewater;shesank,butroseagaintothesurface,andwavingherhand,shecriedforthelasttime,'LongliveNapoleon!'abulletshotputtinganendtoherlife。
  "Severalofthetownspeoplehadmetwithshockingdeaths。Forinstance,M。Angles,aneighbourofmine,anoldmanandnoinconsiderablescholar,havingunfortunately,whenatthepalacesomedaysbefore,givenutterancebeforewitnessestothesentimentthatNapoleonwasagreatman,learnedthatforthiscrimehewasabouttobearrested。Yieldingtotheprayersofhisfamily,hedisguisedhimself,and,gettingintoawaggon,setofftoseeksafetyinthecountry。Hewas,however,recognisedandbroughtaprisonertotheplaceduChapitre,where,afterbeingbuffetedaboutandinsultedforanhourbythepopulace,hewasatlastmurdered。
  "Itmayeasilybeimaginedthatalthoughnoonecametodisturbuswedidnotsleepmuchthatnight。Theladiesrestedonsofasorinarm—chairswithoutundressing,whileourhost,M_____andmyselftookturnsinguardingthedoor,guninhand。
  "Assoonasitwaslightweconsultedwhatcourseweshouldtake:I
  wasoftheopinionthatweoughttotrytoreachAixbyunfrequentedpaths;havingfriendsthere,weshouldbeabletoprocureacarriageandgettoNimes,wheremyfamilylived。Butmywifedidnotagreewithme。'Imustgobacktotownforourthings,'saidshe;'wehavenoclothesbutthoseonourbacks。LetussendtothevillagetoaskifMarseillesisquieterto—daythanyesterday。'Sowesentoffamessenger。
  "Thenewshebroughtbackwasfavourable;orderwascompletelyrestored。Icouldnotquitebelievethis,andstillrefusedtoletmywifereturntothetownunlessIaccompaniedher。Butinthateveryonewasagainstme:mypresencewouldgiverisetodangerswhichwithoutmehadnoexistence。Wherewerethemiscreantscowardlyenoughtomurderawomanofeighteenwhobelongedtono—partyandhadneverinjuredanyone?Asforme,myopinionswerewellknown。
  Moreover,mymother—in—lawofferedtoaccompanyherdaughter,andbothjoinedinpersuadingmethattherewasnodanger。AtlastIwasforcedtoconsent,butonlyononecondition。
  "'Icannotsay,'Iobserved,'whetherthereisanyfoundationforthereassuringtidingswehaveheard,butofonethingyoumaybesure:
  itisnowseveno'clockinthemorning,youcangettoMarseillesinanhour,packyourtrunksinanotherhour,andreturninathird;letusallowonehourmoreforunforeseendelays。Ifyouarenotbackbyeleveno'clock,Ishallbelievesomethinghashappened,andtakestepsaccordingly。''Verywell,'saidmywife;'ifIamnotbackbythen,youmaythinkmedead,anddowhateveryouthinkbest。'Andsosheandhermotherleftme。
  "Anhourlater,quitedifferentnewscametohand。Fugitives,seekinglikeourselvessafetyinthecountry,toldusthattherioting,farfromceasing,hadincreased;thestreetswereencumberedwithcorpses,andtwopeoplehadbeenmurderedwithunheard—ofcruelty。
  "AnoldmannamedBessieres,whohadledasimpleandblamelesslife,andwhoseonlycrimewasthathehadservedundertheUsurper,anticipatingthatunderexistingcircumstancesthiswouldberegardedasacapitalcrime,madehiswill,whichwasafterwardsfoundamonghispapers。Itbeganwiththefollowingwords:
  "'AsitispossiblethatduringthisrevolutionImaymeetmydeath,asapartisanofNapoleon,althoughIhaveneverlovedhim,Igiveandbequeath,'etc。,etc。
  "Thedaybefore,hisbrother—in—law,knowinghehadprivateenemies,hadcometothehouseandspentthenighttryingtoinducehimtoflee,butallinvain。Butthenextmorning,hishousebeingattacked,heyielded,andtriedtoescapebythebackdoor。HewasstoppedbysomeoftheNationalGuard,andplacedhimselfundertheirprotection。
  TheytookhimtotheCoursSt。Louis,where,beinghustledbythecrowdandveryineffectuallydefendedbytheGuards,hetriedtoentertheCaf?Mercantier,butthedoorwasshutinhisface。Beingbrokenbyfatigue,breathless,andcoveredwithdustandsweat,hethrewhimselfononeofthebenchesplacedagainstthewall,outsidethehouse。Herehewaswoundedbyamusketbullet,butnotkilled。
  Atthesightofhisbloodshrieksofjoywereheard,andthenayoungmanwithapistolineachhandforcedhiswaythroughthethrongandkilledtheoldmanbytwoshotsfiredpointblankinhisface。
  "Anotherstillmoreatrociousmurdertookplaceinthecourseofthesamemorning。Afatherandson,boundbacktoback,weredeliveredovertothetendermerciesofthemob。Stonedandbeatenandcoveredwitheachother'sblood,fortwolonghourstheirdeath—agonyendured,andallthewhilethosewhocouldnotgetnearenoughtostrikeweredancingroundthem。
  "Ourtimepassedlisteningtosuchstories;suddenlyIsawafriendrunningtowardsthehouse。Iwenttomeethim。HewassopalethatIhardlydaredtoquestionhim。Hecamefromthecity,andhadbeenatmyhousetoseewhathadbecomeofme。Therewasnooneinit,butacrossthedoorlaytwocorpseswrappedinablood—stainedsheetwhichhehadnotdaredtolift。
  "Attheseterriblewordsnothingcouldholdmeback。IsetoffforMarseilles。M_____whowouldnotconsenttoletmereturnalone,accompaniedme。InpassingthroughthevillageofSaint—Justweencounteredacrowdofarmedpeasantsinthemainstreetwhoappearedtobelongtothefreecompanies。Althoughthiscircumstancewasratheralarming,itwouldhavebeendangeroustoturnback,sowecontinuedourwayasifwewerenotintheleastuneasy。Theyexaminedourbearingandourdressnarrowly,andthenexchangedsomesentencesinalow,voice,ofwhichweonlycaughtthewordaustaniers。ThiswasthenamebywhichtheBonapartistswerecalledbythepeasants,andmeans'eatersofchestnuts,'thisarticleoffoodbeingbroughtfromCorsicatoFrance。However,wewerenotmolestedinanyway,forasweweregoingtowardsthecitytheydidnotthinkwecouldbefugitives。Ahundredyardsbeyondthevillagewecameupwithacrowdofpeasants,whowere,likeus,onthewaytoMarseilles。Itwasplaintoseethattheyhadjustbeenpillagingsomecountryhouse,fortheywereladenwithrichstuffs,chandeliersandjewels。ItprovedtobethatofM。R____,inspectorofreviews。
  Severalcarriedmuskets。Ipointedouttomycompanionastainofbloodonthetrousersofoneofthemen,whobegantolaughwhenhesawwhatwewerelookingat。TwohundredyardsoutsidethecityI
  metawomanwhohadformerlybeenaservantinmyhouse。Shewasverymuchastonishedtoseeme,andsaid,'Goawayatonce;themassacreishorrible,muchworsethanyesterday。'
  "'Butmywife,'Icried,'doyouknowanythingabouther?'
  "'No,sir,'shereplied;'Iwasgoingtoknockatthedoor,butsomepeopleaskedmeinathreateningmannerifIcouldtellthemwherethefriendofthatrascalBrinewas,astheyweregoingtotakeawayhisappetiteforbread。Sotakemyadvice,'shecontinued,'andgobacktowhereyoucamefrom。'
  "ThisadvicewasthelastIcouldmakeupmymindtofollow,sowewenton,butfoundastrongguardatthegate,andsawthatitwouldbeimpossibletogetthroughwithoutbeingrecognised。Atthesametime,thecriesandthereportsoffirearmsfromwithinwerecomingnearer;itwouldthereforehavebeentocourtcertaindeathtoadvance,soweretracedoursteps。InpassingagainthroughthevillageofSaint—Justwemetoncemoreourarmedpeasants。Butthistimetheyburstoutintothreatsonseeingus,shouting,'Letuskillthem!Letuskillthem!'Insteadofrunningaway,weapproachedthem,assuringthemthatwewereRoyalists。Ourcoolnesswassoconvincingthatwegotthroughsafeandsound。
  "Ongettingbacktothecaptain'sIthrewmyselfonthesofa,quiteovercomebythethoughtthatonlythatmorningmywifehadbeenbesidemeundermyprotection,andthatIhadlethergobacktothetowntoacruelandinevitabledeath。Ifeltasifmyheartwouldbreak,andnothingthatourhostandmyfriendcouldsaygavemetheslightestcomfort。Iwaslikeamadman,unconsciousofeverythingroundme。
  "M_____wentouttotrytopickupsomenews,butinaninstantweheardhimrunningback,andhedashedintotheroom,callingout"'Theyarecoming!Theretheyare!'
  "'Whoarecoming?'weasked。
  "'Theassassins!'
  "Myfirstfeeling,Iconfess,wasoneofjoy。Ipounceduponapairofdouble—barrelledpistols,resolvednottoletmyselfbeslaughteredlikeasheep。ThroughthewindowIcouldseesomemenclimbingoverthewallandgettingdownintothegarden。Wehadjustsufficienttimetoescapebyabackstaircasewhichledtoadoor,throughwhichwepassed,shuttingitbehindus。Wefoundourselvesonaroad,attheothersideofwhichwasavineyard。Wecrossedtheroadandcreptunderthevines,whichcompletelyconcealedus。
  "Aswelearnedlater,thecaptain'shousehadbeendenouncedasaBonapartistnest,andtheassassinshadhopedtotakeitbysurprise;
  and,indeed,iftheyhadcomealittlesoonerwehadbeenlost,forbeforewehadbeenfiveminutesinourhiding—placethemurderersrushedoutontheroad,lookingforusineverydirection,withouttheslightestsuspicionthatwewerenotsixyardsdistant。ThoughtheydidnotseeusIcouldseethem,andIheldmypistolsreadycocked,quitedeterminedtokillthefirstwhocamenear。However,inashorttimetheywentaway。
  "Assoonastheywereoutofhearingwebegantoconsideroursituationandweighourchances。Therewasnouseingoingbacktothecaptain's,forhewasnolongerthere,havingalsosucceededingettingaway。Ifweweretowanderaboutthecountryweshouldberecognisedasfugitives,andthefatethatawaitedusassuchwasatthatmomentbroughthometous,forafewyardsawaywesuddenlyheardtheshrieksofamanwhowasbeingmurdered。TheywerethefirstcriesofagonyIhadeverheard,andforafewmoments,I
  confess,Iwasfrozenwithterror。Butsoonaviolentreactiontookplacewithinme,andIfeltthatitwouldbebettertomarchstraighttomeetperilthantoawaititscoming,andalthoughIknewthedangeroftryingtogothroughSaint—Justagain,Iresolvedtoriskit,andtogettoMarseillesatallcosts。So,turningtoM____,I
  said:
  "'Youcanremainherewithoutdangeruntiltheevening,butIamgoingtoMarseillesatonce;forIcannotendurethisuncertaintyanylonger。IfIfindSaint—Justclear,Ishallcomebackandrejoinyou,butifnotIshallgetawayasbestIcanalone。'
  "Knowingthedangerthatwewererunning,andhowlittlechancetherewasthatweshouldeverseeeachotheragain,heheldouthishandtome,butIthrewmyselfintohisarmsandgavehimalastembrace。
  "Istartedatonce:whenIreachedSaint—JustIfoundthefreebootersstillthere;soIwalkeduptothem,trollingamelody,butoneofthemseizedmebythecollarandtwootherstookaimatmewiththeirmuskets。
  "IfeverinmylifeIshouted'Longlivetheking!'withlessenthusiasmthanthecrydeserves,itwasthen:toassumearollickingair,tolaughwithcoolcarelessnesswhenthereisnothingbetweenyouanddeathbutthemoreorlessstrongpressureofahighwayman'sfingeronthetriggerofamusket,isnoeasytask;butallthisI
  accomplished,andoncemoregotthroughthevillagewithawholeskinindeed,butwiththeunalterableresolutiontoblowmybrainsoutratherthanagaintrysuchanexperiment。
  "HavingnowavillagebehindmewhichIhadvowednevertore—enter,andtherebeingnoroadavailablebywhichIcouldhopetogetroundMarseilles,theonlycourseopentomewastomakemywayintothecity。Atthatmomentthiswasathingofdifficulty,formanysmallbodiesoftroops,wearingthewhitecockade,infestedtheapproaches。
  Isoonperceivedthatthedangerofgettinginwasasgreatasever,soIdeterminedtowalkupanddowntillnight,hopingthedarknesswouldcometomyaid;butoneofthepatrolssoongavemetounderstandthatmyprowlingabouthadarousedsuspicion,andorderedmeeithertogoontothecity,inwhichbyallaccountstherewassmallchanceofsafetyforme,orbacktothevillage;wherecertaindeathawaitedme。Ahappyinspirationflashedacrossmymind,I
  wouldgetsomerefreshment,andseeinganinnnearby,Iwentinandorderedamugofbeer,sittingdownnearthewindow,faintlyhopingthatbeforethenecessityforafinaldecisionarrived,someonewhoknewmewouldpassby。Afterwaitinghalfanhour,Ididindeedseeanacquaintance——nootherthanM_____,whomIhadleftinthevineyard。Ibeckonedhim,andhejoinedme。Hetoldmethat,beingtooimpatienttoawaitmyreturn,hehadsoonmadeuphismindtofollowme,andbyjoiningabandofpillagerswasluckyenoughtogetsafelythroughSaint—Just。Weconsultedtogetherastowhatwehadbetterdonext,andhavingappliedtoourhost,foundhecouldsupplyuswithatrustymessenger,whowouldcarrythenewsofourwhereaboutstomybrother—in—law。Afterananxiouswaitofthreehours,wesawhimcoming。Iwasabouttorunouttomeethim,butM____heldmeback,pointingoutthedangerofsuchastep;sowesatstilloureyesfixedontheapproachingfigure。Butwhenmybrother—in—lawreachedtheinn,Icouldrestrainmyimpatiencenolonger,butrushingoutoftheroommethimonthestairs。
  "'Mywife?'Icried。'Haveyouseenmywife?'
  "'Sheisatmyhouse,'wasthereply,andwithacryofjoyIthrewmyselfintohisarms。
  "Mywife,whohadbeenthreatened,insulted,androughlytreatedbecauseofmyopinions,hadindeedfoundsafetyatmybrother—in—law's。
  "Nightwascomingon。Mybrother—in—law,whoworetheuniformoftheNationalGuard,whichwasatthatmomentasafeguard,tookuseachbyanarm,andwepassedthebarrierwithoutanyoneaskinguswhowewere。Choosingquietstreets,wereachedhishouseunmolested;butinfactthewholecitywasquiet,forthecarnagewaspracticallyatanend。
  "Mywifesafe!thisthoughtfilledmyheartwithjoyalmosttoogreattobear。
  "Heradventureswerethefollowing:
  "Mywifeandhermotherhadgonetoourhouse,asagreedupon,topackourtrunks。Astheylefttheirrooms,havingaccomplishedtheirtask,theyfoundthelandladywaitingonthestaircase,whoatonceoverwhelmedmywifewithatorrentofabuse。
  Thehusband,whountilthenhadknownnothingoftheirtenant'sreturn,hearingthenoise,cameoutofhisroom,and,seizinghiswifebythearm,pulledherinandshutthedoor。She,however,rushedtothewindow,andjustasmywifeandhermotherreachedthestreet,shoutedtoafreebandwhowereonguardacrosstheway,'Fire!theyareBonapartists!'Fortunatelythemen,moremercifulthanthewoman,seeingtwoladiesquitealone,didnothindertheirpassage,andasjustthenmybrother—in—lawcameby,whoseopinionswerewellknownandwhoseuniformwasrespected,hewasallowedtotakethemunderhisprotectionandconductthemtohishouseinsafety。
  "Ayoungman,employedatthePrefecture,whohadcalledatmyhousethedaybefore,IhavingpromisedtohelphimineditingtheJournaldesBouches—du—Rhone,wasnotsolucky。Hisoccupationandhisvisittomelaidhimundersuspicionofpossessingdangerousopinions,andhisfriendsurgedhimtofly;butitwastoolate。HewasattackedatthecorneroftheruedeNoailles,andfellwoundedbyastabfromadagger。Happily,however,heultimatelyrecovered。
  "Thewholedaywaspassedinthecommissionofdeedsstillmorebloodythanthoseofthedaybefore;thesewersranblood,andeveryhundredyardsadeadbodywastobemet。Butthissight,insteadofsatiatingthethirstforbloodoftheassassins,onlyseemedtoawakenageneralfeelingofgaiety。Intheeveningthestreetsresoundedwithsongandroundelay,andformanyayeartocomethatwhichwelookedbackonas'thedayofthemassacre'livedinthememoryoftheRoyalistsas'thedayofthefarce。'
  "Aswefeltwecouldnotliveanylongerinthemidstofsuchscenes,eventhough,asfaraswewereconcerned,alldangerwasover,wesetoutforNimesthatsameevening,havingbeenofferedtheuseofacarriage。
  "NothingworthyofnotehappenedontheroadtoOrgon,whichwereachednextday;buttheisolateddetachmentsoftroopswhichwepassedfromtimetotimeremindedusthatthetranquillitywasnowhereperfect。Aswenearedthetownwesawthreemengoingaboutarminarm;thisfriendlinessseemedstrangetousafterourrecentexperiences,foroneofthemworeawhitecockade,thesecondatricolour,andthethirdnoneatall,andyettheywentaboutonthemostbrotherlyterms,eachawaitingunderadifferentbannertheoutcomeofevents。Theirwisdomimpressedmemuch,andfeelingIhadnothingtofearfromsuchphilosophers,Iwentuptothemandquestionedthem,andtheyexplainedtheirhopestomewiththegreatestinnocence,andaboveall,theirfirmdeterminationtobelongtowhateverpartygottheupperhand。AswedroveintoOrgonwesawataglancethatthewholetownwassimmeringwithexcitement。
  Everybody'sfaceexpressedanxiety。Amanwho,weweretold,wasthemayor,washaranguingagroup。Aseveryonewaslistening,withthegreatestattention,wedrewnearandaskedthemthecauseoftheexcitement。
  "'Gentlemen,'saidhe,'yououghttoknowthenews:thekingisinhiscapital,andwehaveoncemorehoistedthewhiteflag,andtherehasnotbeenasingledisputetomarthetranquillityoftheday;onepartyhastriumphedwithoutviolence,andtheotherhassubmittedwithresignation。ButIhavejustlearnedthatabandofvagabonds,numberingaboutthreehundred,haveassembledonthebridgeovertheDurance,andarepreparingtoraidourlittletownto—night,intendingbypillageorextortiontogetatwhatwepossess。IhaveafewgunsleftwhichIamabouttodistribute,andeachmanwillwatchoverthesafetyofall。'
  "Althoughhehadnotenougharmstogoround,heofferedtosupplyus,butasIhadmydouble—barrelledpistolsIdidnotdeprivehimofhisweapons。Imadetheladiesgotobed,and,sittingattheirdoor,triedtosleepaswellasIcould,apistolineachhand。Butateveryinstantthenoiseofafalsealarmsoundedthroughthetown,andwhendaydawnedmyonlyconsolationwasthatnooneelseinOrgonhadsleptanybetterthanI。
  "ThenextdaywecontinuedourjourneytoTarascon,wherenewexcitementsawaitedus。Aswegotnearthetownweheardthetocsinclanginganddrumsbeatingthegenerale。Weweregettingsoaccustomedtotheuproarthatwewerenotverymuchastonished。
  However,whenwegotinweaskedwhatwasgoingon,andweweretoldthattwelvethousandtroopsfromNimeshadmarchedonBeaucaireandlaiditwastewithfireandsword。Iinsinuatedthattwelvethousandmenwasratheralargenumberforonetowntofurnish,butwastoldthatthatincludedtroopsfromtheGardonninqueandtheCevennes。
  Nimesstillclungtothetricolour,butBeaucairehadhoistedthewhiteflag,anditwasforthepurposeofpullingitdownandscatteringtheRoyalistswhowereassemblinginnumbersatBeaucairethatNimeshadsentforthhertroopsonthisexpedition。SeeingthatTarasconandBeaucaireareonlyseparatedbytheRhone,itstruckmeaspeculiarthatsuchquietshouldprevailononebank,whilesuchfierceconflictwasragingontheother。Ididnotdoubtthatsomethinghadhappened,butnotaneventofsuchgravityaswasreported。WethereforedecidedtopushontoBeaucaire,andwhenwegottherewefoundthetowninthemostperfectorder。Theexpeditionoftwelvethousandmenwasreducedtooneoftwohundred,whichhadbeeneasilyrepulsed,withtheresultthatoftheassailantsonehadbeenwoundedandonemadeprisoner。Proudofthissuccess,thepeopleofBeaucaireentrusteduswithathousandobjurgationstodelivertotheirinveterateenemiesthecitizensofNimes。