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Unfortunately； Cavalier was soon obliged to quit the forest； in spite
of his hopes of being left in peace； for one day on his way back from
a visit to the wounded in the cave； whose existence was a secret； he
came across a hundred miquelets who had penetrated thus far； and who
would have taken him prisoner if he had not； with his； accustomed
presence of mind and courage； sprung from a rock twenty feet high。
The miquelets fired at him； but no bullet reached him。 Cavalier
rejoined his troops； but fearing to attract the rest of the royalists
to the place；retreated to some distance from the cave； as it was of
the utmost importance that it should not be discovered； since it
contained all his resources。
Cavalier had now reached one of those moments when Fortune； tired of
conferring favours； turns her back on the favourite。 The royalists
had often noticed an old woman from the village of Hieuzet going
towards the forest； sometimes carrying a basket in her hand；
sometimes with a hamper on her head； and it occurred to them that she
was supplying the hidden Camisards with provisions。 She was arrested
and brought before General Lalande； who began his examination by
threatening that he would have her hanged if she did not at once
declare the object of her frequent journeys to the forest without
reserve。 At first she made use of all kinds of pretexts； which only
strengthened the suspicions of Lalande； who； ceasing his questions；
ordered her to be taken to the gallows and hanged。 The old woman
walked to the place of execution with such a firm step that the
general began to think he would get no information from her； but at
the foot of the ladder her courage failed。 She asked to be taken
back before the general； and having been promised her life； she
revealed everything。
M。 de Lalande put himself at once at the head of a strong detachment
of miquelets； and forced the woman to walk before them till they
reached the cavern； which they never would have discovered without a
guide； so cleverly was the entrance hidden by rocks and brushwood。
On entering； the first thing that met their eye was the wounded；
about thirty in number。 The miquelets threw themselves upon them and
slaughtered them。 This deed accomplished； they went farther into the
cave； which to their great surprise contained a thousand things they
never expected to find thereheaps of grain； sacks of flour； barrels
of wine； casks of brandy； quantities of chestnuts and potatoes； and
besides all this； chests containing ointments； drugs and lint； and
lastly a complete arsenal of muskets； swords； and bayonets； a
quantity of powder ready…made； and sulphur； saltpetre； and
charcoal…in short； everything necessary for the manufacture of more；
down to small mills to be turned by hand。 Lalande kept his word： the
life of an old woman was not too much to give in return for such a
treasure。
Meantime M。 de Villars； as he had promised； took up Baron d'Aygaliers
in passing through Lyons； so that during the rest of the journey the
peacemaker had plenty of time to expatiate on his plans。 As M。 de
Villars was a man of tact and a lover of justice； and desired above
all things to bring a right spirit to bear on the performance of the
duties of his new office； in which his two predecessors had failed；
he promised the baron 〃to keep；〃 as he expressed himself； his 〃two
ears open〃 and listen to both sides； and as a first proof of
impartialityhe refused to give any opinion until he had heard M； de
Julien； who was coming to meet him at Tournon。
When they arrived at Tournon； M。 de Julien was there to receive them；
and had a very different story to tell from that which M。 de Villars
had heard from d'Aygaliers。 According to him； the only pacific
ration possible was the complete extermination of the Camisards。 He
felt himself very hardly treated in that he had been allowed to
destroy only four hundred villages and hamlets in the Upper Cevennes；
assuring de Villars with the confidence of a man who had studied
the matter profoundly； that they should all have been demolished
without exception； and all the peasants killed to the last man。
So it came to pass that M。 de Villars arrived at Beaucaire placed
like Don Juan between the spirits of good and evil； the one advising
clemency and the other murder。 M。 de Villars not being able to make
up his mind； on reaching Nimes； d'Aygaliers assembled the principal
Protestants of the town； told them of his plan； showing them its
practicability； so that also joined in the good work； and drew up a
document in which they asked the marechal to allow them to take up
arms and march against the rebels； as they were determined either to
bring them back into the good way by force of example or to fight
them as a proof of their loyalty。
This petition； which was signed by several nobles and by almost all
the lawyers and merchants of the city of Nimes； was presented to M。
de Villars on Tuesday； 22nd April； 1704； by M。 de Albenas； at the
head of seven or eight hundred persons of the Reformed religion。
M。 de Villars received the request kindly； thanked its bearer and
those who accompanied him； assuring them that he had no doubt of the
sincerity of their professions； and that if he were in want of help
he would have recourse to them with as much confidence as if they
were old Catholics。 He hoped； however； to win the rebels back by
mildness； and he begged them to second his efforts in this direction
by spreading abroad the fact that an amnesty was offered to all those
who would lay down arms and return to their houses within a week。
The very next day but one； M。 de Villars set out from Nimes to visit
all the principal towns； in order to make himself acquainted with
men； things； and places。
Although the answer to the petition had been a delicate refusal；
d'Aygaliers was not discouraged； but followed M。 de Villars
everywhere。 When the latter arrived at Alais； the new governor sent
for MM。 de Lalande and de Baville； in order to consult them as to the
best means of inducing the Camisards to lay down their arms。 Baron
d'Aygaliers was summoned to this consultation； and described his plan
to the two gentlemen。 As he expected； both were opposed to it；
however； he tried to bring them over to his side by presenting to
them what seemed to him to be cogent reasons for its adoption。 But
de Lalande and de Baville made light of all his reasons； and rejected
his proposals with such vehemence； that the marechal； however much
inclined to the side of d'Aygaliers； did not venture to act quite
alone； and said he would not decide on any course until he reached
Uzes。
D'Aygaliers saw clearly that until he had obtained the approbation of
either the general or the intendant； he would get nothing from the
marechal。 He therefore considered which of the two he should try to
persuade； and although de Baville was his personal enemy； having
several times shown his hatred for him and his family； he decided to
address himself to him。
In consequence； the next day； to the great astonishment of M。 de
Baville； d'Aygaliers paid him a visit。 The intendant received him
coldly but politely； asked him to sit down； and when he was seated
begged to know the motive which had brought him。 〃Sir；〃 replied the
baron； 〃you have given my family and me such cause of offence that I
had come to the firm resolution never to ask a favour of you； and as
perhaps you may have remarked during the journey we have taken with
M。 le marechal； I would rather have died of thirst than accept a
glass of water from you。 But I have come here to…day not upon any
private matter； to obtain my own ends； but upon a matter which
concerns the welfare of the State。 I therefore beg you to put out of
your mind the dislike which you have to me and mine； and I do this
the more earnestly that your dislike can only have been caused by the
fact that our religion is different from yoursa thing which could
neither have been foreseen nor prevented。 My entreaty is that you do
not try to set M。 le marechal against the course which I have
proposed to him； which I am convinced would bring the disorders in
our province to an end； s