massacres of the south-第38章

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〃After　the　capitulation　of　the　Duc　d'Angouleme　I　found　myself；〃
deposes　Paul　Lambert；　lace…maker　of　Nimes；　〃in　one　of　several
detachments　under　the　orders　of　Commandant　Magne　and　General　Vogue。
In　the　middle　of　a　forest　near　a　village；　the　name　of　which　I　do　not
know；　M。　de　Vogue　and　the　other　officer；　told　us　we　might　go　home。
The　flag　was　folded　up；　and　M。　Magne　put　it　in　his　pocket。　　We　asked
our　chiefs　what　we　were　to　do　with　our　arms。　　M。　de　Vogue　told　us
that　we　had　better　keep　them；　as　we　should　need　them　before　very
long；　and　in　any　case　it　would　be　well　to　have　them　with　us　on　the
road；　lest　anything　should　happen　to　us。〃

The　three　depositions　are　too　much　alike　to　leave　room　for　any　doubt。
The　royal　volunteers　contravened　Article　I　of　the　convention。

Being　thus　abandoned　by　their　chiefs；　without　general　and　without
flag；　M。　de　Vogue's　soldiers　asked　no　further　counsel　of　anyone　but
themselves；　and；　as　one　of　them　has　already　told　us；　sixty…four　of
them　joined　together　to　hire　a　guide　who　was　to　show　them　how　to　get
by　Uzes　without　going　through　it；　for　they　were　afraid　of　meeting
with　insult　there。　　The　guide　brought　them　as　far　as　Montarem　without
anyone　opposing　their　passage　or　taking　notice　of　their　arms。

Suddenly　a　coachman　named　Bertrand；　a　confidential　servant　of　Abbe
Rafin；　former　Grand…Vicar　of　Alais；　and　of　Baroness　Arnaud…Wurmeser
（for　the　abbe　administered　the　estate　of　Aureillac　in　his　own　name
and　that　of　the　baroness）；　galloped　into　the　village　of
Arpaillargues；　which　was　almost　entirely　Protestant　and　consequently
Napoleonist；　announcing　that　the　miquelets　（for　after　one　hundred　and
ten　years　the　old　name　given　to　the　royal　troops　was　revived）　were　on
the　way　from　Montarem；　pillaging　houses；　murdering　magistrates；
outraging　women；　and　then　throwing　them　out　of　the　windows。　　It　is
easy　to　understand　the　effect　of　such　a　story。　　The　people　gathered
together　in　groups；　the　mayor　and　his　assistant　being　absent；
Bertrand　was　taken　before　a　certain　Boucarut；　who　on　receiving　his
report　ordered　the　generale　to　be　beaten　and　the　tocsin　to　be　rung。
Then　the　consternation　became　general：　the　men　seized　their　muskets；
the　women　and　children　stones　and　pitchforks；　and　everyone　made　ready
to　face　a　danger　which　only　existed　in　the　imagination　of　Bertrand；
for　there　was　not　a　shadow　of　foundation　for　the　story　he　had　told。

While　the　village　was　in　this　state　of　feverish　excitement　the　royal
volunteers　came　in　sight。　　Hardly　were　they　seen　than　the　cry；　〃There
they　are！　　There　they　are！〃　arose　on　all　sides；　the　streets　were
barricaded　with　carts；　the　tocsin　rang　out　with　redoubled　frenzy；　and
everyone　capable　of　carrying　arms　rushed　to　the　entrance　of　the
village。

The　volunteers；　hearing　the　uproar　and　seeing　the　hostile
preparations；　halted；　and　to　show　that　their　intentions　were
peaceful；　put　their　shakos　on　their　musket　stocks　and　waved　them
above　their　heads；　shouting　that　no　one　need　fear；　for　they　would　do
no　harm　to　anyone。　　But　alarmed　as　they　were　by　the　terrible　stories
told　by　Bertrand；　the　villagers　shouted　back　that　they　could　not
trust　to　such　assurances；　and　that　if　they　wanted　to　pass　through　the
village　they　must　first　give　up　their　weapons。　　It　may　easily　be
imagined　that　men　who　had　broken　the　convention　in　order　to　keep
their　weapons　were　not　likely　to　give　them　up　to　these　villagersin
fact；　they　obstinately　refused　to　let　them　out　of　their　hands；　and　by
doing　so　increased　the　suspicions　of　the　people。　　A　parley　of　a　very
excited　character　took　place　between　M。　Fournier　for　the　royal　guards
and　M。　Boucarut；　who　was　chosen　spokesman　by　the　villagers。　　From
words　they　came　to　deeds：　the　miquelets　tried　to　force　their　way
through；　some　shots　were　fired；　and　two　miquelets；　Calvet　and
Fournier；　fell。　　The　others　scattered；　followed　by　a　lively
discharge；　and　two　more　miquelets　were　slightly　wounded。　　Thereupon
they　all　took　to　flight　through　the　fields　on　either　side　of　the
road；　pursued　for　a　short　distance　by　the　villagers；　but　soon
returned　to　examine　the　two　wounded　men；　and　a　report　was　drawn　up　by
Antoine　Robin；　advocate　and　magistrate　of　the　canton　of　Uzes；　of　the
events　just　related。

This　accident　was　almost　the　only　one　of　its　kind　which　happened
during　the　Hundred　Days：　the　two　parties　remained　face　to　face；
threatening　but　self…controlled。　　But　let　there　be　no　mistake：　there
was　no　peace；　they　were　simply　awaiting　a　declaration　of　war。　　When
the　calm　was　broken；　it　was　from　Marseilles　that　the　provocation
came。　　We　shall　efface　ourselves　for　a　time　and　let　an　eye…witness
speak；　who　being　a　Catholic　cannot　be　suspected　of　partiality　for　the
Protestants。

〃I　was　living　in　Marseilles　at　the　time　of　Napoleon's　landing；　and　I
was　a　witness　of　the　impression　which　the　news　produced　upon
everyone。　　There　was　one　great　cry；　the　enthusiasm　was　universal；　the
National　Guard　wanted　to　join　him　to　the　last　man；　but　Marshal
Massena　did　not　give　his　consent　until　it　was　too　late；　for　Napoleon
had　already　reached　the　mountains；　and　was　moving　with　such　swiftness
that　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　overtake　him。　　Next　we　heard　of
his　triumphal　entry　into　Lyons；　and　of　his　arrival　in　Paris　during
the　night。　　Marseilles　submitted　like　the　rest　of　France；　Prince
d'Essling　was　recalled　to　the　capital；　and　Marshal　Brune；　who
commanded　the　6th　corps　of　observation；　fixed　his　headquarters　at
Marseilles。

〃With　quite　incomprehensible　fickleness；　Marseilles；　whose　name
during　the　Terror　had　been；　as　one　may　say；　the　symbol　of　the　most
advanced　opinions；　had　become　almost　entirely　Royalist　in　1815。
Nevertheless；　its　inhabitants　saw　without　a　murmur　the　tricolour　flag
after　a　year's　absence　floating　once　more　above　the　walls。　　No
arbitrary　interference　on　the　part　of　the　authorities；　no　threats；
and　no　brawling　between　the　citizens　and　the　soldiers；　troubled　the
peace　of　old　Phocea；　no　revolution　ever　took　place　with　such
quietness　and　facility。

〃It　must；　however；　be　said；　that　Marshal　Brune　was　just　the　man　to
accomplish　such　a　transformation　without　friction；　in　him　the
frankness　and　loyalty　of　an　old　soldier　were　combined　with　other
qualities　more　solid　than　brilliant。　　Tacitus　in　hand；　he　looked　on
at　modern　revolutions　as　they　passed；　and　only　interfered　when　the；
voice　of　his　country　called　him　to　her　defence。　　The　conqueror　of
Harlem　and　Bakkun　had　been　for　four　years　forgotten　in　retirement；　or
rather　in　exile；　when　the　same　voice　which　sent　him　away　recalled
him；　and　at　the　summons　Cincinnatus　left　his　plough　and　grasped　his
weapons。　　Physically　he　was　at　this　period　a　man　of　about　fifty…five；
with　a　frank　and　open　face　framed　by　large　whiskers；　his　head　was
bald　except　for　a　little　grizzled　hair　at　the　temples；　he　was　tall
and　active；　and　had　a　remarkably　soldierly　bearing。

〃I　had　been　brought　into　contact　with　him　by　a　report　which　one　of　my
friends　and　I　had　drawn　up　on　the　opinions　of　the　people　of　the
South；　and　of　which　he　had　asked　to　have　a　copy。　　In　a　long
conversation　with　us；　he　discussed　the　subject　with　the　impartiality
of　a　man　who　brings　an　open　mind　to　a　debate；　and　he　invited　us　to
come　often　to　see　him。　　We　enjoyed　ourselves　so　much　in　his　society
that　we　got　into　the　habit　of　going　to　his　house　nearly　every
evening。

〃On　his　arrival　in　the　South　an　old　calumny　which　had　formerly
pursued　him　again　made　its　appearance；　quite　rejuvenated　by　its　long
sleep。　　A　writer　whose　name　I　have　forgotten；　in　describing　the
Massacres　of　the　Second　of　September　and　the　death　of　the　unfortunate
Princesse　de　Lamballe；　had　said；　'Some　people　thought　they　recognised
in　the　man　who　carried　her　head　impaled　on　a　pike；　General　Brune　in
disguise；'　and　this　accusation；　which　had　been　caught　up　with
eagerness　under　the　Consulate；　still　followed　him　so　relentlessly　in
1815；　that　hardly　a　day　passed　without　his　receiving　an　anonymous
letter；　threatening　him　with　the　same　fate　which　had　overtaken　the
princess。　　One　evening　while　we　were　with　him　such　a　letter　arrived；
and　having　read　it　he　passed　it　on　to　us。　　It　was　as　follows：

〃'Wretch；We　are　acquainted　with　all　your　crimes；　for　which　you　will
soon　receive　the　chastisement　you　well　deserve。　　It　was　you　who
during　the　revolution　brought　about　the　death　of　the　Princesse　de
Lamballe；　it　was　you　who　carried　her　head　on　a　pike；　but　your　head
will　be　impaled　on　something　longer。　　If　you　are　so　rash　as　to　be
present　at　the　review　of　the　Allies　it　is　all　up　with　you；　and　your
head　will　be　stuck　on　the　steeple　of　the　Accoules。　　Farewell；
SCOUNDREL！'


〃We　advised　him　to　trace　this　calumny　to　its　source；　and　then　to　take
signal　vengeance　on　the　authors。　　He　paused　an　instant　to　reflect；
and　then　lit　the　letter　at　a　candle；　and　looking　at　it　thoughtfully
as　it　turned　to　ashes　in　his　hand；　said；Vengeance！　　Yes；　perhaps　by
seeking　that　I　could　silence　the　authors　of　these　slanders　and
preserve　the　public　tranquillity　which　they　constantly　imperil。　　But
I　prefer　persuasion　to　severity。　　My　principle　is；　that　it　is　better
to　bring　men's　heads　back　to　a　right　way　of　thinking　than　to　cut　them
off；　and　to　be　regarded　as　a　weak　man　rather　than　as　a　bloodthirsty
one。'

〃The　essence　of　Marshal　Brune's　character　was　contained　in　these
words。

〃Public　tranquillity　was　indeed　twice　endangered　at　Marseilles　during
the　Hundred　Days；　and　both　times　in　the　same　manner。　　The　garrison
officers　used　to　gather　at　a　coffee…house　in　the　place　Necker；　and
sing　songs　suggested　by　passing　events。　　This　caused　an　attack　by　the
townspeople；　who　broke　the　windows　by　throwing　stones；　some　of　which
struck　the　officers。　　These　rushed　out；　crying；　'To　arms！'　　The
townspeople　were　not　slow　to　respond；　but　the　commandant　ordered　the
'geneydle'　to　beat；　sent　out　numerous　patrols；　and　succeeded　in
calming　the　excitement　and　restoring　quietness　without　any
casualties。

〃The　day　of　the　Champ　du　Mai　orders　for　a　general　illumination　were
given；　and　that　the　tricolour　flag　should　be　displayed　from　the
windows。　　The　greater　number　of　the　inhabitants　paid　no　attention　to
the　desires　of　the　authorities；　and　the　officers　being　annoyed　at
this　neglect；　indulged　in　reprehensible　excesses；　which；　however；
resulted　in　nothing　mare　serious　than　some　broken　windows　belonging
to　houses　which　had　not　illuminated；　and　in　some　of　the　householders
being　forced　to　illuminate　according　to　order。

〃In　Marseilles　as　in　the　rest　of　France；　people　began　to　despair　of
the　success　of　the　royal　cause；　and　those　who　represented　this　cause；
who　were　very　numerous　at　Marseilles；　gave　up　annoying　the　military
and　seemed　to　resign　themselves　to　their　fate。　　Marshal　Brune　had
left　the　city　to　take　up　his　post　on　the　frontier；　without　any　of　the
dangers　with　which　he　was　threatened　having　come　across　his　path。

〃The　25th　of　June　arrived；　and　the　news　of　the　successes　obtained　at
Fleurus　and　at　Ligny　seemed　to　justify　the　hopes　of　the　soldiers；
when；　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　muttered　reports　began　to　spread　in
the　town；　the　distant　reverberations　of　the　cannon　of　Waterloo。　　The
silence　of　the　leaders；　the　uneasiness　of　the　soldiers；　the　delight
of　the　Royalists；