besides,thelargenumberofstrangersatpresentinCalvissonoughttobesufficientproofthatnoattempthasbeenmadetopreventthenewconvertsfromcomingtothetown,anditseemstomethatyouhavebeentooeasilyledtobelieveeverythingthatmaliciouspeoplehavetoldyou。"
"IbelievewhatIchoosetobelieve,"saidRavanelimpatiently;"butwhatIknowandsayis,thatIshallneverlaydownarmstillthekinggrantsusfulllibertyofconscience,permissiontorebuildourplacesofworship,andsendsusbackallprisonersandexiles。"
"But,judgingbyyourtone,"saidCavalier,whohadtillnowremainedsilentwhiletoyingwithhispistol,"youseemtobeincommandhere;
havewechanged,partswithoutmybeingaware？"
"Itispossible,"saidRavanel。
Cavalierburstoutlaughing。
"Itseemstoastonishyou,"saidRavanel,"butitistrue。Makepeaceforyourself,laydownwhatconditionssuityou,sellyourselfforwhateveryouwillbring;myonlyreplyis,Youareacowardandatraitor。Butastothetroops,theywillnotlaydownarmsexceptontheconditionsformulatedbyme。"
CavaliertriedtogetatRavanel,butseeingfromhispalenessandhissmilethatterriblethingswouldhappenifhereachedhislieutenant,VincelandCappon,backedbysomeCamisards,threwthemselvesbeforehishorse。Justthenthewholebandshoutedwithonevoice,"Nopeace！nopeace！noreconciliationtillourtemplesarerestored！"Cavalierthensawforthefirsttimethatthingsweremoreseriousthanhehadbelieved,butVincel,Cappon,Berlie,andabouttwentyCamisardssurroundedtheyoungchiefandforcedhimtoenterahouse;itwasthehouseofVincel。
Theyhadhardlygotindoorswhenthe'generale'wassounded:
resistingallentreaties,Cavaliersprangtothedoor,butwasdetainedbyBerlie,whosaidthatthefirstthingheoughttodowastowriteM。deVillarsanaccountofwhathadhappened,whowouldthentakemeasurestoputthingsstraight。
"Youareright,"saidCavalier;"asIhavesomanyenemies,thegeneralmightbetoldifIwerekilledthatIhadbrokenmyword。
Givemepenandink。"
Writingmaterialswerebrought,andhewrotetoM。deVillars。
"Here,"hesaid,givingtheletterunsealedtoVincel,"setoutforNimesandgivethistothemarechal,andtellhim,ifIamkilledintheattemptIamabouttomake,Idiedhishumbleservant。"
Withthesewords,hedartedoutofthehouseandmountedhishorse,beingmetatthedoorbytwelvetofifteenmenwhohadremainedfaithfultohim。HeaskedthemwhereRavanelandhistroopswere,notseeingasingleCamisardinthestreets;oneofthesoldiersansweredthattheywereprobablystillintown,butthattheyweremovingtowardsLesGarriguesdeCalvisson。Cavaliersetoffatagalloptoovertakethem。
Incrossingthemarket—placehemetCatinat,walkingbetweentwoprophets,onecalledMosesandtheotherDanielGuy;Catinatwasjustbackfromavisittothemountains,sothathehadtakennopartinthesceneofinsubordinationthathadsolatelybeenenacted。
Cavalierfeltarayofhope;hewassurehecoulddependonCatinatasonhimself。Hehurriedtogreethim,holdingouthishand;butCatinatdrewbackhis。
"Whatdoesthismean？"criedCavalier,thebloodmountingtohisforehead。
"Itmeans,"answeredCatinat,"thatyouareatraitor,andIcannotgivemyhandtoatraitor。"
Cavaliergaveacryofrage,andadvancingonCatinat,raisedhiscanetostrikehim;butMosesandDanielGuythrewthemselvesbetween,sothattheblowaimedatCatinatfellonMoses。AtthesamemomentCatinat,seeingCavalier'sgesture,drewapistolfromhisbelt。Asitwasatfullcock,itwentoffinhishand,abulletpiercingGuy'shat,without,however,woundinghim。
Atthenoiseofthereportshoutswereheardaboutahundredyardsaway。ItwastheCamisards,whohadbeenonthepointofleavingthetown,buthearingtheshothadturnedback,believingthatsomeoftheirbrethrenwerebeingmurdered。Onseeingthemappear,CavalierforgotCatinat,androdestraighttowardsthem。Assoonastheycaughtsightofhimtheyhalted,andRavaneladvancedbeforethemreadyforeverydanger。
"Brethren,"hecried,"thetraitorhascomeoncemoretotemptus。
Begone,Judas！Youhavenobusinesshere。"
"ButIhave,"exclaimedCavalier。"IhavetopunishascoundrelcalledRavanel,ifhehascouragetofollowme。"
"Comeon,then,"criedRavanel,dartingdownasmallside—street,"andletushavedonewithit。"TheCamisardsmadeamotionasiftofollowthem,butRavanelturningtowardsthemorderedthemtoremainwheretheywere。
Theyobeyed,andthusCavaliercouldseethat,insubordinateastheyhadbeentowardshim,theywerereadytoobeyanother。
Justatthemomentasheturnedintothenarrowstreetwherethedisputewastobesettledonceforall,MosesandGuycameup,andseizingthebridleofhishorsestoppedhim,whiletheCamisardswhowereonthesideofCavaliersurroundedRavanelandforcedhimtoreturntohissoldiers。Thetroopsstruckupapsalm,andresumedtheirmarch,whileCavalierwasheldbackbyforce。
Atlast,however,theyoungCevenolsucceededinbreakingawayfromthosewhosurroundedhim,andasthestreetbywhichtheCamisardshadretiredwasblocked,hedasheddownanother。Thetwoprophetssuspectinghisintention,hurriedafterthetroopsbythemostdirectroute,andgotupwiththem,justasCavalier,whohadmadethecircuitofthetown,camegallopingacrosstheplaintointercepttheirpassage。Thetroopshalted,andRavanelgaveorderstofire。
Thefirstrankraisedtheirmusketsandtookaim,thusindicatingthattheywerereadytoobey。ButitwasnotadangerofthiskindthatcouldfrightenCavalier;hecontinuedtoadvance。ThenMosesseeinghisperil,threwhimselfbetweentheCamisardsandhim,stretchingouthisarmsandshouting,"Stop！stop！misguidedmen！
AreyougoingtokillBrotherCavalierlikeahighwaymanandthief？
Youmustpardonhim,mybrethren！youmustpardonhim！Ifhehasdonewronginthepast,hewilldobetterinfuture。"
ThenthosewhohadtakenaimatCavaliergroundedtheirmuskets,andCavalierchangingmenaceforentreaty,beggedthemnottobreakthepromisethathehadmadeintheirname;whereupontheprophetsstruckupapsalm,andtherestofthesoldiersjoiningin,hisvoicewascompletelydrowned。Nevertheless,Cavalierdidnotloseheart,butaccompaniedthemontheirmarchtoSaint—Esteve,aboutaleaguefartheron,unabletorelinquishallhope。OnreachingSaint—Estevethesingingceasedforamoment,andhemadeanotherattempttorecallthemtoobedience。Seeing,however,thatitwasallinvain,hegaveuphope,and%—callingout,"Atleastdefendyourselvesaswellasyoucan,forthedragoonswillsoonbeonyou,"hesethishorse'sheadtowardsthetown。Thenturningtothemforthelasttime,hesaid,"Brethren,letthosewholovemefollowme！"Hepronouncedthesewordsintonessofullofgriefandaffectionthatmanywereshakenintheirresolution;butRavanelandMosesseeingtheeffecthehadproduced,begantoshout,"TheswordoftheLord！"
ImmediatelyallthetroopsturnedtheirbackonCavalierexceptaboutfortymenwhohadjoinedhimonhisfirstappearance。
Cavalierwentintoahousenearby,andwroteanotherlettertoM。deVillars,inwhichhetoldhimwhathadjusttakenplace,theeffortshehadmadetowinbackhistroops,andtheconditionstheydemanded。
Heendedbyassuringhimthathewouldmakestillfurtherefforts,andpromisedthemarechalthathewouldkeephiminformedofeverythingthatwenton。HethenwithdrewtoCardet,notventuringtoreturntoCalvisson。
BothCavalier'slettersreachedM。deVillarsatthesametime;inthefirstimpulseofangerarousedbythisunexpectedcheck,heissuedthefollowingorder:
"Sincecomingtothisprovinceandtakingoverthegovernmentbyorderoftheking,oursolethoughthasbeenhowtoputanendtothedisorderswefoundexistingherebygentlemeasures,andtorestorepeaceandtopreservethepropertyofthosewhohadtakennopartinthedisturbances。TothatendweobtainedHisMajesty'spardonforthoserebelswhohad,bythepersuasionoftheirchiefs,beeninducedtolaydowntheirarms;theonlyconditionexactedbeingthattheyshouldthrowthemselvesontheking'sclemencyandbeghispermissiontoexpiatetheircrimebyadventuringtheirlivesinhisservice。
But,beinginformedthatinsteadofkeepingtheengagementstheyhadmadebysigningpetitions,bywritingletters,andbyspeakingwordsexpressingtheirintentions,someamongthemhavebeentryingtodeludethemindsofthepeoplewithfalsehopesoffulllibertyfortheexerciseofthisso—calledReformedreligion,whichtherehasneverbeenanyintentionofgranting,butwhichwehavealwaysdeclaredasclearlyaswecould,tobecontrarytothewillofthekingandlikelytobringaboutgreatevilsforwhichitwouldbedifficulttofindaremedy,itbecomesnecessarytopreventthosewhogivebelieftothesefalsehoodsfromexpectingtoescapefromwell—deservedchastisement。WethereforedeclareherebythatallreligiousassembliesareexpresslyforbiddenunderthepenaltiesproclaimedintheedictsandordinancesofHisMajesty,andthatthesewillbemorestrictlyenforcedinthefuturethaninthepast。
"Furthermore,weorderallthetroopsunderourcommandtobreakupsuchassembliesbyforce,ashavingbeenalwaysillegal,andwedesiretoimpressonthenewconvertsofthisprovincethattheyaretogivetheirobediencewhereitisdue,andweforbidthemtogiveanycredencetothefalsereportswhichtheenemiesoftheirreposearespreadingabroad。Iftheyletthemselvesbeledastray,theywillsoonfindthemselvesinvolvedintroublesandmisfortunes,suchasthelossoftheirlands,theruinoftheirfamilies,andthedesolationoftheircountry;andweshalltakecarethatthetrueauthorsofthesemisfortunesshallreceivepunishmentproportionedtotheircrime。
"MARECHALDEVILLARS
"GivenatNimesthe27thdayofMay1704"
Thisorder,whichputeverythingbackuponthefootingonwhichithadbeeninthetimeofM。deMontrevel,hadhardlybeenissuedthand'Aygaliers,indespairatseeingtheresultofsomuchlabourdestroyedinoneday,setoffforthemountainstotryandfindCavalier。HefoundhimatCardet,whither,aswehavesaid,hehadretiredafterthedayofCalvisson。DespitetheresolutionwhichCavalierhadtakennevertoshowhisfaceagaintothemarechal,thebaronrepeatedtohimsomanytimesthatM。deVillarswasthoroughlyconvincedthatwhathadhappenedhadnotbeenhisfault,hehavingdoneeverythingthathecouldtopreventit,thattheyoungchiefbegantofeelhisself—confidenceandcouragereturning,andhearingthatthemarachalhadexpressedhimselfasverymuchpleasedwithhisconduct,towhichVincelhadbornehightestimony,madeuphismindtoreturntoNimes。TheyleftCardetatonce,followedbythefortymenwhohadremainedtruetoCavalier,tenonhorseandthirtyonfoot,andarrivedonthe3lstMayatSaint—Genies,whitherM。deVillarshadcometomeetthem。
Theassurancesofd'Aygalierswerejustified。ThemarechalreceivedCavalierasifhewerestillthechiefofapowerfulpartyandabletonegotiatewithhimontermsofequality。AtCavalier'srequest,inordertoprovetohimthathestoodashighinhisgoodopinionasever,themarechalreturnedoncemoretogentlemethods,andmitigatedtheseverityofhisfirstproclamationbyasecond,grantinganextensionoftheamnesty:
"Theprincipalchiefsoftherebels,withthegreaternumberoftheirfollowers,havingsurrendered,andhavingreceivedtheking'spardon,wedeclarethatwegivetoallthosewhohavetakenuparmsuntilnextThursday,the5thinstantinclusive,theopportunityofreceivingthelikepardon,bysurrenderingtousatAnduze,ortoM。
leMarquisdeLalandeatAlais,ortoM。deMenonatSaintHippolyte,ortothecommandantsofUzes,Nimes,andLunel。Butthefifthdaypassed,weshalllayaheavyhandonallrebels,pillagingandburningalltheplaceswhichhavegiventhemrefuge,provisions,orhelpofanykind;andthattheymaynotpleadignoranceofthisproclamation,weorderittobepubliclyreadandpostedupineverysuitableplace。
"MARECHALDEVILLARS
"AtSaint—Genies,the1stJune1704"
Thenextday,inordertoleavenodoubtastohisgoodintentions,themarechalhadthegibbetsandscaffoldstakendown,whichuntilthenhadbeenpermanenterections。
AtthesametimealltheHuguenotswereorderedtomakealastefforttoinducetheCamisardchiefstoaccepttheconditionsofferedthembyM。deVillars。ThetownsofAlais,Anduze,Saint—Jean,Sauve,Saint—Hippolyte,andLasalle,andtheparishesofCros,Saint—Roman,Manoblet,Saint—Felix,Lacadiere,Cesas,Cambo,Colognac,andVabrewereorderedtosenddeputiestoDurforttoconferastothebestmeansofbringingaboutthatpeacewhicheveryonedesired。ThesedeputieswroteatoncetoM。deVillarstobeghimtosendthemM。
d'Aygaliers,andtoM。d'Aygalierstorequesthimtocome。
Bothconsentedtodoastheywereasked,andM。d'AygaliersarrivedatDurfortonthe3rdofJune1704。
Thedeputieshavingfirstthankedhimforthetroublewhichhehadtakentoservethecommoncauseduringthepastyear,resolvedtodividetheirassemblyintotwoparts,oneofwhich,wastoremainpermanentlysitting,whiletheotherwenttoseekRolandandRavaneltotryandobtainacessationofhostilities。ThedeputieschargedwiththistaskwereorderedtomakeitquitecleartothetwochiefsthatiftheydidnotaccepttheproposalsmadebyM。deVillars,theProtestantsingeneralwouldtakeuparmsandhuntthemdown,andwouldceasetosupplythemwiththemeansofsubsistence。
Onhearingthis,Rolandmadereplythatthedeputiesweretogobackatoncetothosewhosentthem,andthreatened,shouldtheyevershowhimtheirfacesagain,tofireonthem。
Thisanswerputanendtotheassembly,thedeputiesdispersed,andd'AygaliersreturnedtotheMarechaldeVillarstomakehisreport。
HardlyhadhedonethiswhenaletterfromRolandarrived,inwhichtheCamisardchiefaskedM。deVillarstogranthimaninterview,suchashehadgrantedtoCavalier。Thisletterwasaddressedtod'Aygaliers,whoimmediatelycommunicateditscontentstothemarechal,fromwhomhereceivedorderstosetoutatoncetofindRolandandtosparenopainstobringhimround。
D'Aygaliers,whowasalwaysindefatigablewhenworkingforhiscountry,startedthesameday,andwenttoamountainaboutthree—quartersofaleaguefromAnduze,whereRolandawaitedhim。
Afteraconferenceoftwohours,itwasagreedthathostagesshouldbeexchangedandnegotiationsenteredupon。
Consequently,M。deVillarsonhissidesentRolandM。deMontrevel,anofficercommandingabattalionofmarines,andM。delaMaison—Blanche,captainoftheFroulayregiment;whileRolandinreturnsentM。deVillarsfourofhisprincipalofficerswiththetitleofplenipotentiaries。
Unskilledindiplomacyastheseenvoyswere,andlaughableastheyappearedtocontemporaryhistorians,theyreceivedneverthelessthemarechal'sconsenttothefollowingconditions:
1。ThatCavalierandRolandshouldeachbeplacedinchargeofaregimentservingabroad,andthateachofthemshouldbeallowedaminister。
2。Thatalltheprisonersshouldbereleasedandtheexilesrecalled。
3。ThattheProtestantsshouldbepermittedtoleavethekingdom,takingtheireffectswiththem。
4。ThatthoseCamisardswhodesiredtoremainmightdoso,ongivinguptheirarms。
5。Thatthosewhowereabroadmightreturn。
6。Thatnooneshouldbemolestedonaccountofhisreligionprovidedeveryoneremainedquietlyathome。
7。Thatindemnitiesshouldbebornebythewholeprovince,andnotexactedspeciallyfromtheProtestants。
8。Thatageneralamnestyshouldbegrantedtoallwithoutreserve。
ThesearticleswerelaidbeforeRolandandRavanelbyd'Aygaliers。
Cavalier,whofromthedayhewentbacktoNimeshadremainedinthegovernor'ssuite,askedleavetoreturnwiththebaron,andwaspermittedtodoso。D'AygaliersandhesetouttogetherinconsequenceforAnduze,andmetRolandandRavanelaboutaquarterofaleaguefromthetown,waitingtoknowtheresultofthenegotiations。TheywereaccompaniedbyMM。deMontbelanddeMaison—Blanche,theCatholichostages。
AssoonasCavalierandRolandmettheyburstoutintorecriminationsandreproaches,butthroughtheeffortsofd'Aygalierstheysoonbecamemorefriendly,andevenembracedonparting。
ButRavanelwasmadeofharderstuff:assoonashecaughtsightofCavalierhecalledhim"traitor,"sayingthatforhisparthewouldneversurrendertilltheEdictofNanteswasre—enacted;then,havingwarnedthemthatthegovernor'spromiseswerenottobetrusted,andhavingpredictedthatadaywouldcomewhentheywouldregrettheirtoogreatconfidenceinhim,helefttheconferenceandrejoinedhistroops,which,withthoseofRoland,weredrawnuponamountainaboutthree—quartersofaleaguedistant。
Thenegotiatorsdidnot,however,despair。Ravanelhadgoneaway,butRolandhaddebatedwiththematsomelength,sotheydeterminedtospeakto"thebrethren"——thatis,tothetroopsunderRolandandRavanel,whoseheadquartersatthemomentwereatLeuzies,inorderthattheymightknowexactlywhatarticleshadbeenagreedonbetweenRoland'senvoysandthemarechal。Thosewhomadeuptheirmindstotakethisstepwere,Cavalier,Roland,Moise,Saint—Paul,Laforet,Maille,andd'Aygaliers。Wetakethefollowingaccountofwhathappenedinconsequenceofthisdecisionfromd'Aygaliers'Memoirs:
"Wehadnosoonerdeterminedonthisplan,than,anxioustocarryitout,wesetoff。Wefollowedanarrowmountainpathonthefaceofthecliffwhichroseuptoourright;toourleftflowedtheGardon。
"Havinggoneaboutaleague,wecameinsightofthetroops,about3000strong;anadvancedpostbarredourway。
"Thinkingitwasplacedthereinourhonour,Iwasadvancingunsuspiciously,whensuddenlywefoundourroadcutoffbyCamisardstorightandleft,whothrewthemselvesonRolandandforcedhiminamongtheirtroops。MailleandMalplachweredraggedfromtheirhorses。AstoCavalier,whowassomewhatbehind,assoonashesawpeoplecomingtowardshimwithupliftedsabresandshoutingTraitor！
heputspurstohishorseandwentoffatfullgallop,followedbysometownspeoplefromAnduzewhohadcomewithus,andwho,nowthattheysawthereceptionwemetwith,werereadytodiewithfear。
"Iwastoofarforwardtoescape:fiveorsixmusketsrestedonmybreastandapistolpressedeachear;soImadeupmymindtobebold。Itoldthetrooperstofire;Iwaswillingtodieintheserviceofmyprince,mycountry,andmyreligion,aswellasforthemselves,whomIwastryingtobenefitbyprocuringthemtheking'sgoodwill。
"Thesewords,whichIrepeatedseveraltimesinthemidstofthegreatestuproar,gavethempause。
"Theycommandedmetoretire,astheydidnotwanttokillme。I
saidIshoulddonothingofthekind:IwasgoingintothemiddleofthetroopstodefendRolandagainstthechargeoftreason,orbeputtodeathmyself,unlessIcouldconvincethemthatwhatIhadproposedtohimandCavalierwasforthegoodofthecountry,ofourreligion,andthebrethren;andhavingthusexpostulatedatthetopofmyvoiceagainstthirtyvoicesalltryingtodrownmineforaboutanhour,Iofferedtofightthemanwhohadinducedthemtoopposeus。
"Atthisoffertheypointedtheirmusketsatmeoncemore;butMaille,Malplach,andsomeothersthrewthemselvesbeforeme,andalthoughtheywereunarmed,hadenoughinfluencetohindermybeinginsulted;Iwasforced,however,toretreat。
"Inleaving,Iwarnedthemthattheywereabouttobringgreatmisfortunesontheprovince,whereuponamannamedClarissteppedoutfromamongthetroops,andapproachingmeexclaimed,'Goon,sir,andGodblessyou！Weknowthatyoumeanwell,andwerethefirsttobetakenin。Butgoonworkingforthegoodofthecountry,andGodwillblessyou。'"
D'Aygaliersreturnedtothemarechal,who,furiousattheturnthingshadtaken,resolvedinstantlytobreakoffallnegotiationsandhaverecourseoncemoretomeasuresofseverity。However,beforeactuallycarryingoutthisdetermination,hewrotethefollowinglettertotheking:
"SIRE,——ItisalwaysmyglorytoexecutefaithfullyyourMajesty'sorders,whateverthoseordersmaybe;butIshouldhavebeenable,onmanyoccasionssincecominghere,todisplaymyzealforyourMajesty'sserviceinotherwaysifIhadnothadtodealwithmadmenonwhomnodependencecouldbeplaced。Assoonaswewerereadytoattackthem,theyofferedtosubmit,butalittlelaterchangedtheirmindsagain。Nothingcouldbeagreaterproofofmadnessthantheirhesitationtoacceptapardonofwhichtheywereunworthy,andwhichwassogenerouslyofferedbyyourMajesty。Iftheydonotsoonmakeuptheirminds,Ishallbringthembacktothepathsofdutybyforce,andthusrestorethisprovincetothatstateofpeacewhichhasbeendisturbedbythesefools。"
Thedayafterwritingthislettertotheking,RolandsentMailletoM。deVillarstobeghimtowaittillSaturdayandSundaythe7thandthe8thJunewereover,beforeresortingtoseverity,thatbeingtheendofthetruce。Hegavehimasolemnpromisethathewould,intheinterval,eitherbringinhistroopstothelastman,orwouldhimselfsurrenderalongwithahundredandfiftyfollowers。ThemarechalconsentedtowaittillSaturdaymorning,butassoonasSaturdayarrivedhegaveorderstoattacktheCamisards,andthenextdayledaconsiderablebodyoftroopstoCarnoulet,intendingtotaketheHuguenotsbysurprise,aswordhadbeenbroughtthattheywereallgatheredthere。They,however,receivedintelligenceofhisplan,andevacuatedthevillageduringthenight。
Thevillagehadtopaydearlyforitssinofhospitality;itwaspillagedandburntdown:themiqueletsevenmurderedtwowomenwhomtheyfoundthere,andd'Aygaliersfailedtoobtainanysatisfactionforthiscrime。InthismannerM,deVillarskeptthefatalpromisehehadgiven,andinternecinewarragedoncemore。
FuriousathavingmissedtheCamisards,deMenonhavingheardfromhisscoutsthatRolandwastosleepnextnightatthechateaudePrade,wenttoM。deVillarsandaskedleavetoconductanexpeditionagainstthechief。HewasalmostsureoftakingRolandbysurprise,havingprocuredaguidewhoseknowledgeofthecountrywasminute。
Themarechalgavehimcarteblanche。IntheeveningMenonsetoutwithtwohundredgrenadiers。Hehadalreadyputthree—quartersofthewaybehindhimwithoutbeingdiscovered,whenanEnglishmanmetthembychance。ThismanwasservingunderRoland,buthadbeenvisitinghissweetheartinaneighbouringvillage,andwasonhiswayhomewhenhefellamongMenon'sgrenadiers。Withoutathoughtforhisownsafety,hefiredoffhisgun,shouting,"Fly！fly！Theroyalsareuponyou！"
Thesentinelstookupthecry,Rolandjumpedoutofbed,and,withoutstayingforclothesorhorse,ranoffinhisshirt,escapingbyaposterngatewhichopenedontheforestjustasdeMenonenteredbyanother。HefoundRoland'sbedstillwarm,andtookpossessionofhisclothes,findinginacoatpocketapursecontainingthirty—fiveLouis,andinthestablesthreesuperbhorses。TheCamisardsansweredthisbeginningofhostilitiesbyamurder。Fourofthem,thinkingtheyhadreasonsfordispleasureagainstoneofM。deBaville'ssubordinates,namedDaude,whowasbothmayorandmagistrate;atLeVigan,hidinacorn—fieldwhichhehadtopassonhiswaybackfromLaValette,hiscountryplace。Theirmeasuresweresuccessful:Daudecamealongjustaswasexpected,andashehadnottheslightestsuspicionoftheimpendingdanger,hecontinuedconversingwithM,deMondardier,agentlemanoftheneighbourhoodwhohadaskedforthe;handofDaude'sdaughterinmarriagethatveryday。Suddenlyhefoundhimselfsurroundedbyfourmen,who,upbraidinghimforhisexactionsandcruelties,shothimtwicethroughtheheadwithapistol。TheyofferednoviolencetoM。deMondardierexcepttodeprivehimofhislacedhatandsword。ThedayonwhichM。deVillarsheardofitsmurderhesetapriceontheheadsofRoland,Ravanel,andCatinat。StilltheexamplesetbyCavalier,joinedtotheresumptionofhostilities,wasnotwithoutinfluenceontheCamisards;everydaylettersarrivedfromsingletroopersofferingtolaydowntheirarms,andinonedaythirtyrebelscameinandputthemselvesintoLalande'shands,whiletwentysurrenderedtoGrandval;thesewereaccordednotonlypardon,butreceivedareward,inhopesthattheymightbeabletoinduceotherstodolikethem;andonthe15thJuneeightofthetroopswhichhadabandonedCavalieratCalvissonmadesubmission;whiletwelveothersaskedtobeallowedtoreturntotheiroldchieftofollowhimwhereverhewent。Thisrequestwasatoncegranted:theyweresenttoValabregues,wheretheyfoundforty—twooftheiroldcomrades,amongstwhomwereDuplanandCavalier'syoungbrother,whohadbeenorderedthereafewdaysbefore。Astheyarrivedtheyweregivenquartersinthebarracks,andreceivedgoodpay——thechiefsfortysousaday,andtheprivatesten。Sotheyfeltashappyaspossible,beingwellfedandwelllodged,andspenttheirtimepreaching,praying,andpsalm—singing,inseasonandoutofseason。Allthis,saysLaBaume,wassodisagreeabletotheinhabitantsoftheplace,whowereCatholics,thatiftheyhadnotbeenguardedbytheking'ssoldierstheywouldhavebeenpitchedintotheRhone。
CHAPTERV
MeantimethedateofCavalier'sdeparturedrewnear。Atownwastobenamedinwhichhewastoresideatasufficientdistancefromthetheatreofwartopreventtherebelsfromdependingonhimanymore;
inthistownhewastoorganisehisregiment,andassoonasitwascompleteitwastogo,underhiscommand,toSpain,andfightfortheking。M。deVillarswasstillonthesamefriendlytermswithhim,treatinghim,notlikearebel,butaccordingtohisnewrankintheFrencharmy。Onthe21stJunehetoldhimthathewastogetreadytoleavethenextday,andatthesametimehehandedhimanadvanceontheirfuturepay——fiftyLouisforhimself,thirtyforDanielBillard,whohadbeenmadelieutenant—colonelintheplaceofRavanel,tenforeachcaptain,fiveforeachlieutenant,twoforeachsergeant,andoneforeachprivate。Thenumberofhisfollowershadthenreachedonehundredandfifty,onlysixtyofwhomwerearmed。
M。deVassiniac,majorintheFimarcnregiment,accompaniedthemwithfiftydragoonsandfiftyoftherankandfilefromHainault。
AllalongtheroadCavalierandhismenmetwithacourteousreception;atMacontheyfoundordersawaitingthemtohalt。
CavalieratoncewrotetoM。deChamillardtotellhimthathehadthingsofimportancetocommunicatetohim,andtheministersentacourieroftheCabinetcalledLavalleetobringCavaliertoVersailles。ThismessagemorethanfulfilledallCavalier'shopes:
heknewthathehadbeengreatlytalkedaboutatcourt,andinspiteofhisnaturalmodestythereceptionhehadmetwithatTimeshadgivenhimnewideas,ifnotofhisownmerit,atleastofhisownimportance。Besides,hefeltthathisservicestothekingdeservedsomerecognition。
ThewayinwhichCavalierwasreceivedbyChamillarddidnotdisturbthesegoldendreams:theministerwelcomedtheyoungcolonellikeamanwhoseworthheappreciated,andtoldhimthatthegreatlordsandladiesofthecourtwerenotlessfavourablydisposedtowardshim。