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。