massacres of the south-第25章

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king。　　M。　de　Villars　was　still　on　the　same　friendly　terms　with　him；
treating　him；　not　like　a　rebel；　but　according　to　his　new　rank　in　the
French　army。　　On　the　21st　June　he　told　him　that　he　was　to　get　ready
to　leave　the　next　day；　and　at　the　same　time　he　handed　him　an　advance
on　their　future　payfifty　Louis　for　himself；　thirty　for　Daniel
Billard；　who　had　been　made　lieutenant…colonel　in　the　place　of
Ravanel；　ten　for　each　captain；　five　for　each　lieutenant；　two　for　each
sergeant；　and　one　for　each　private。　　The　number　of　his　followers　had
then　reached　one　hundred　and　fifty；　only　sixty　of　whom　were　armed。
M。　de　Vassiniac；　major　in　the　Fimarcn　regiment；　accompanied　them　with
fifty　dragoons　and　fifty　of　the　rank　and　file　from　Hainault。

All　along　the　road　Cavalier　and　his　men　met　with　a　courteous
reception；　at　Macon　they　found　orders　awaiting　them　to　halt。
Cavalier　at　once　wrote　to　M。　de　Chamillard　to　tell　him　that　he　had
things　of　importance　to　communicate　to　him；　and　the　minister　sent　a
courier　of　the　Cabinet　called　Lavallee　to　bring　Cavalier　to
Versailles。　　This　message　more　than　fulfilled　all　Cavalier's　hopes：
he　knew　that　he　had　been　greatly　talked　about　at　court；　and　in　spite
of　his　natural　modesty　the　reception　he　had　met　with　at　Times　had
given　him　new　ideas；　if　not　of　his　own　merit；　at　least　of　his　own
importance。　　Besides；　he　felt　that　his　services　to　the　king　deserved
some　recognition。

The　way　in　which　Cavalier　was　received　by　Chamillard　did　not　disturb
these　golden　dreams：　the　minister　welcomed　the　young　colonel　like　a
man　whose　worth　he　appreciated；　and　told　him　that　the　great　lords　and
ladies　of　the　court　were　not　less　favourably　disposed　towards　him。
The　next　day　Chamillard　announced　to　Cavalier　that　the　king　desired
to　see　him；　and　that　he　was　to　keep　himself　prepared　for　a　summons　to
court。　　Two　days　later；　Cavalier　received　a　letter　from　the　minister
telling　him　to　be　at　the　palace　at　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　and
he　would　place　him　on　the　grand　staircase；　up　which　the　king　would
pass。

Cavalier　put　on　his　handsomest　clothes；　for　the　first　time　in　his
life　perhaps　taking　trouble　with　his　toilet。　　He　had　fine　features；
to　which　his　extreme　youth；　his　long　fair　hair；　and　the　gentle
expression　of　his　eyes　lent　much　charm。　　Two　years　of　warfare　had
given　him　a　martial　air；　in　short；　even　among　the　most　elegant；　he
might　pass　as　a　beau　cavalier。

At　three　o'clock　he　reached　Versailles；　and　found　Chamillard　waiting
for　him；　all　the　courtiers　of　every　rank　were　in　a　state　of　great
excitement；　for　they　had　learned　that　the　great　Louis　had　expressed　a
wish　to　meet　the　late　Cevenol　chief；　whose　name　had　been　pronounced
so　loud　and　so　often　in　the　mountains　of　Languedoc　that　its　echoes
had　resounded　in　the　halls　of　Versailles。　　Cavalier　had　not　been
mistaken　in　thinking　that　everyone　was　curious　to　see　him；　only　as　no
one　yet　knew　in　what　light　the　king　regarded　him；　the　courtiers　dared
not　accost　him　for　fear　of　compromising　their　dignity；　the　manner　of
his　reception　by　His　Majesty　would　regulate　the　warmth　of　his
reception　by　everyone　else。

Met　thus　by　looks　of　curiosity　and　affected　silence；　the　young
colonel　felt　some　embarrassment；　and　this　increased　when　Chamillard；
who　had　accompanied　him　to　his　appointed　place；　left　him　to　rejoin
the　king。　　However；　in　a　few　moments　he　did　what　embarrassed　people
so　often　do；　hid　his　shyness　under　an　air　of　disdain；　and；　leaning　on
the　balustrade；　crossed　his　legs　and　played　with　the　feather　of　his
hat。

When　half　an　hour　had　passed　in　this　manner；　a　great　commotion　was
heard：　Cavalier　turned　in　the　direction　from　which　it　came；　and
perceived　the　king　just　entering　the　vestibule。　　It　was　the　first
time　he　had　seen　him；　but　he　recognized　him　at　once。　　Cavalier's
knees　knocked　together　and　his　face　flushed。

The　king　mounted　the　stairs　step　by　step　with　his　usual　dignity；
stopping　from　time　to　time　to　say　a　word　or　make　a　sign　with　head　or
hand。　　Behind　him；　two　steps　lower；　came　Chamillard；　moving　and
stopping　as　the　king　moved　and　stopped；　and　answering　the　questions
which　His　Majesty　put　to　him　in　a　respectful　but　formal　and　precise
manner。

Reaching　the　level　on　which　Cavalier　stood；　the　king　stopped　under
pretext　of　pointing　out　to　Chamillard　a　new　ceiling　which　Le　Brun　had
just　finished；　but　really　to　have　a　good　look　at　the　singular　man　who
had　maintained　a　struggle　against　two　marshals　of　France　and　treated
with　a　third　on　equal　terms。　　When　he　had　examined　him　quite　at　his
ease；　he　turned　to　Chamillard；　pretending　he　had　only　just　caught
sight　of　the　stranger；　and　asked：

〃Who　is　this　young　gentleman？〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　the　minister；　stepping　forward　to　present　him　to　the
king；　〃this　is　Colonel　Jean　Cavalier。〃

〃Ah　yes；〃　said　the　king　contemptuously；　〃the　former　baker　of　Anduze！〃

And　shrugging　his　shoulders　disdainfully；　he　passed　on。

Cavalier　on　his　side　had；　like　Chamillard；　taken　a　step　forward；　when
the　scornful　answer　of　the　great　king　changed　him　into　a　statue。　　For
an　instant　he　stood　motionless　and　pale　as　death；　then　instinctively
he　laid　his　hand　on　his　sword；　but　becoming　conscious　that　he　was
lost　if　he　remained　an　instant　longer　among　these　people；　whom　not
one　of　his　motions　escaped；　although　they　pretended　to　despise　him
too　much　to　be　aware　of　his　presence；　he　dashed　down　the　staircase
and　through　the　hall；　upsetting　two　or　three　footmen　who　were　in　his
way；　hurried　into　the　garden；　ran　across　it　at　full　speed；　and
regaining　his　room　at　the　hotel；　threw　himself　on　the　floor；　where　he
rolled　like　a　maniac；　uttering　cries　of　rage；　and　cursing　the　hour
when；　trusting　to　the　promises　of　M。　de　Villars；　he　had　abandoned　the
mountains　where　he　was　as　much　a　king　as　Louis　XIV　at　Versailles。　The
same　evening　he　received　orders　to　leave　Paris　and　rejoin　his
regiment　at　Macon。　　He　therefore　set　out　the　next　morning；　without
seeing　M。　de　Chamillard　again。

Cavalier　on　arriving　at　Macon　found　that　his　comrades　had　had　a　visit
from　M。　d'Aygaliers；　who　had　come　again　to　Paris；　in　the　hope　of
obtaining　more　from　the　king　than　M。　de　Villars　could　or　would　grant。

Cavalier；　without　telling　his　comrades　of　the　strange　manner　in　which
the　king　had　received　him；　gave　them　to　understand　that　he　was
beginning　to　fear　that　not　only　would　the　promises　they　had　received
be　broken；　but　that　some　strange　trick　would　be　played　upon　them。

Thereupon　these　men；　whose　chief　and　oracle　he　had　been　for　so　long；
asked　him　what　they　ought　to　do；　Cavalier　replied　that　if　they　would
follow　him；　their　best　course　and　his　would　be　to　take　the　first
opportunity　of　gaining　the　frontier　and　leaving　the　country。　　They
all　declared　themselves　ready　to　follow　him　anywhere。　　This　caused
Cavalier　a　new　pang　of　regret；　for　he　could　not　help　recollecting
that　he　had　once　had　under　his　command　fifteen　hundred　men　like
these。

The　next　day　Cavalier　and　his　comrades　set　out　on　their　march　without
knowing　whither　they　were　being　taken；　not　having　been　able　to　obtain
any　information　as　to　their　destination　from　their　escorta　silence
which　confirmed　them　in　their　resolution。　　As　soon；　therefore；　as
they　reached　Onnan；　Cavalier　declared　that　he　considered　that　the
looked…for　opportunity　had　arrived；　asking　them　if　they　were　still　in
the　same　mind：　they　returned　that　they　would　do　whatever　he　advised。
Cavalier　then　ordered　them　to　hold　themselves　in　readiness；　Daniel
offered　up　a　prayer；　and　the　prayer　ended；　the　whole　company　deserted
in　a　body；　and；　crossing　Mont　Belliard；　entered　Porentruy；　and　took
the　road　to　Lausanne。

Meantime　d'Aygaliers；　in　his　turn；　arrived　at　Versailles；　with
letters　from　M。　de　Villars　for　the　Duke　of　Beauvilliers；　president　of
the　king's　council；　and　for　Chamillard。　　The　evening　of　his　arrival
he　delivered　these　letters　to　those　to　whom　they　were　addressed；　and
both　gentlemen　promised　to　present　him　to　the　king。

Four　days　later；　Chamillard　sent　word　to　d'Aygaliers　that　he　was　to
be　next　day　at　the　door　of　the　king's　chamber　at　the　time　when　the
council　entered。　　D'Aygaliers　was　punctual；　the　king　appeared　at　the
usual　hour；　and　as　he　paused　before　d'Aygaliers；　Chamillard　came
forward　and　said

Baron　d'Aygaliers；　sire。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；　sir；〃　said　the　king；　〃for　I　am　very　much
pleased　with　the　zeal　you　have　displayed　in　Languedoc　in　my　service
very　much　pleased　indeed。〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　d'Aygaliers；　〃I　consider　myself　most　unfortunate　in
that　I　have　been　able　to　accomplish　nothing　deserving　of　the　gracious
words　which　your　Majesty　deigns　to　address　me；　and　I　pray　God　of　His
grace　to　grant　me　in　the　future　an　opportunity　of　proving　my　zeal　and
loyalty　in　your　Majesty's　service　more　clearly　than　hitherto。〃

〃Never　mind；　never　mind；〃　said　the　king。　　〃I　repeat；　sir；　that　I　am
very　much　pleased　with　what　you　have　done。〃

And　he　entered　the　room　where　the　council　was　waiting。

D'Aygaliers　went　away　only　half　satisfied：　he　had　not　come　so　far
only　to　receive　commendation　from　the　king；　but　in　the　hope　of
obtaining　some　concession　for　his　brethren；　but　with　Louis　XIV　it　was
impossible　either　to　intercede　or　complain；　one　could　only　wait。

The　same　evening　Chamillard　sent　for　the　baron；　and　told　him　that　as
Marechal　Villars　had　mentioned　in　his　letter　that　the　Camisards　had
great　confidence　in　him；　d'Aygaliers；　he　wished　to　ask　him　if　he　were
willing　to　go　once　more　to　them　and　try　and　bring　them　back　to　the
path　of　duty。

〃Certainly　I　am　willing；　but　I　fear　things　have　now　got　so　far　that
there　will　be　great　difficulty　in　calming　the　general　perturbation　of
mind。〃

〃But　what　can　these　people　want？〃　asked　Chamillard；　as　if　he　had　just
heard　them　spoken　of　for　the　first　time；　〃and　by　what　means　can　we
pacify　them？〃

〃In　my　opinion；〃　said　the　baron；　〃the　king　should　allow　to　all　his
subjects　the　free　exercise　of　their　religion。〃

〃What！　legalise　once　more　the　exercise　of　the　so…called　Reformed
religion！〃　exclaimed　the　minister。　　〃Be　sure　you　never　mention　such　a
thing　again。　　The　king　would　rather　see　his　kingdom　destroyed　than
consent　to　such　a　measure。〃

〃Monseigneur；〃　replied　the　baron；　〃if　that　is　the　case；　then　I　must
say　with　great　regret　that　I　know　of　no　other　way　to　calm　the
discontent　which　will　ultimately　result　in　the　ruin　of　one　of　the
fairest　provinces　in　France。〃

〃But　that　is　unheard…of　obstinacy；〃　said　the　minister；　lost　in
astonishment；　〃these　people　will　destroy　themselves；　and　drag　their
country　down　with　them。　　If　they　cannot　conform　to　our　religion；　why
do　they　not　worship　God　in　their　own　way　at　home？　　No　one　will
disturb　them　as　long　as　they　don't　insist　on　public　worship。〃

〃At　first　that　was　all　they　wanted；　monseigneur；　and　I　am　convinced
that　if　people　had　not　been　dragged　to　confession　and　communion　by
force；　it　would　have　been　easy　to　keep　them　in　that　submissive　frame
of　mind　from　which　they　were　only　driven　by　despair；　but　at　present
they　say　that　it　is　not　enough　to　pray　at　home；　they　want　to　be
married；　to　have　their　children　baptised　and　instructed；　and　to　die
and　be　buried　according　to　the　ordinances　of　their　own　faith。〃

〃Where　may　you　have　seen　anyone　who　w