"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。