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。