Thenextdaytheduke,accompaniedbyGeneralLagarde,leftforMontpellier;andasitwasonthelatterthattheProtestantsplacedtheirsolerelianceforthemaintenanceofthoserightsguaranteedforthefuturebythewordoftheprince,theyhesitatedtotakeanynewstepinhisabsence,andletthe9thofNovembergobywithoutattemptingtoresumepublicworship,preferringtowaitforthereturnoftheirprotector,whichtookplaceonSaturdayeveningthe11thofNovember。
Whenthegeneralgotback,hisfirstthoughtwastoaskifthecommandsoftheprincehadbeencarriedout,andwhenheheardthattheyhadnot,withoutwaitingtohearawordinjustificationofthedelay,hesentapositiveordertothepresidentoftheConsistorytoopenbothplacesofworshipthenextmorning。
Uponthis,thepresidentcarryingself—abnegationandprudencetotheirextremelimits,wenttothegeneral\'squarters,andhavingwarmlythankedhim,laidbeforehimthedangerstowhichhewouldexposehimselfbyrunningcountertotheopinionsofthosewhohadhadtheirownwayinthecityforthelastfourmonths。ButGeneralLagardebrushedalltheseconsiderationsaside:hehadreceivedanorderfromtheprince,andtoamanofhismilitarycastofmindnocoursewasopenbuttocarrythatorderout。
Nevertheless,thepresidentagainexpressedhisdoubtsandfears。
\"Iwillanswerwithmyhead,\"saidthegeneral,\"thatnothinghappens。\"Stillthepresidentcounselledprudence,askingthatonlyoneplaceofworshipatfirstbeopened,andtothisthegeneralgavehisconsent。