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king。 M。 de Villars was still on the same friendly terms with him；
treating him； not like a rebel； but according to his new rank in the
French army。 On the 21st June he told him that he was to get ready
to leave the next day； and at the same time he handed him an advance
on their future payfifty Louis for himself； thirty for Daniel
Billard； who had been made lieutenant…colonel in the place of
Ravanel； ten for each captain； five for each lieutenant； two for each
sergeant； and one for each private。 The number of his followers had
then reached one hundred and fifty； only sixty of whom were armed。
M。 de Vassiniac； major in the Fimarcn regiment； accompanied them with
fifty dragoons and fifty of the rank and file from Hainault。
All along the road Cavalier and his men met with a courteous
reception； at Macon they found orders awaiting them to halt。
Cavalier at once wrote to M。 de Chamillard to tell him that he had
things of importance to communicate to him； and the minister sent a
courier of the Cabinet called Lavallee to bring Cavalier to
Versailles。 This message more than fulfilled all Cavalier's hopes：
he knew that he had been greatly talked about at court； and in spite
of his natural modesty the reception he had met with at Times had
given him new ideas； if not of his own merit； at least of his own
importance。 Besides； he felt that his services to the king deserved
some recognition。
The way in which Cavalier was received by Chamillard did not disturb
these golden dreams： the minister welcomed the young colonel like a
man whose worth he appreciated； and told him that the great lords and
ladies of the court were not less favourably disposed towards him。
The next day Chamillard announced to Cavalier that the king desired
to see him； and that he was to keep himself prepared for a summons to
court。 Two days later； Cavalier received a letter from the minister
telling him to be at the palace at four o'clock in the afternoon； and
he would place him on the grand staircase； up which the king would
pass。
Cavalier put on his handsomest clothes； for the first time in his
life perhaps taking trouble with his toilet。 He had fine features；
to which his extreme youth； his long fair hair； and the gentle
expression of his eyes lent much charm。 Two years of warfare had
given him a martial air； in short； even among the most elegant； he
might pass as a beau cavalier。
At three o'clock he reached Versailles； and found Chamillard waiting
for him； all the courtiers of every rank were in a state of great
excitement； for they had learned that the great Louis had expressed a
wish to meet the late Cevenol chief； whose name had been pronounced
so loud and so often in the mountains of Languedoc that its echoes
had resounded in the halls of Versailles。 Cavalier had not been
mistaken in thinking that everyone was curious to see him； only as no
one yet knew in what light the king regarded him； the courtiers dared
not accost him for fear of compromising their dignity； the manner of
his reception by His Majesty would regulate the warmth of his
reception by everyone else。
Met thus by looks of curiosity and affected silence； the young
colonel felt some embarrassment； and this increased when Chamillard；
who had accompanied him to his appointed place； left him to rejoin
the king。 However； in a few moments he did what embarrassed people
so often do； hid his shyness under an air of disdain； and； leaning on
the balustrade； crossed his legs and played with the feather of his
hat。
When half an hour had passed in this manner； a great commotion was
heard： Cavalier turned in the direction from which it came； and
perceived the king just entering the vestibule。 It was the first
time he had seen him； but he recognized him at once。 Cavalier's
knees knocked together and his face flushed。
The king mounted the stairs step by step with his usual dignity；
stopping from time to time to say a word or make a sign with head or
hand。 Behind him； two steps lower； came Chamillard； moving and
stopping as the king moved and stopped； and answering the questions
which His Majesty put to him in a respectful but formal and precise
manner。
Reaching the level on which Cavalier stood； the king stopped under
pretext of pointing out to Chamillard a new ceiling which Le Brun had
just finished； but really to have a good look at the singular man who
had maintained a struggle against two marshals of France and treated
with a third on equal terms。 When he had examined him quite at his
ease； he turned to Chamillard； pretending he had only just caught
sight of the stranger； and asked：
〃Who is this young gentleman？〃
〃Sire；〃 answered the minister； stepping forward to present him to the
king； 〃this is Colonel Jean Cavalier。〃
〃Ah yes；〃 said the king contemptuously； 〃the former baker of Anduze！〃
And shrugging his shoulders disdainfully； he passed on。
Cavalier on his side had； like Chamillard； taken a step forward； when
the scornful answer of the great king changed him into a statue。 For
an instant he stood motionless and pale as death； then instinctively
he laid his hand on his sword； but becoming conscious that he was
lost if he remained an instant longer among these people； whom not
one of his motions escaped； although they pretended to despise him
too much to be aware of his presence； he dashed down the staircase
and through the hall； upsetting two or three footmen who were in his
way； hurried into the garden； ran across it at full speed； and
regaining his room at the hotel； threw himself on the floor； where he
rolled like a maniac； uttering cries of rage； and cursing the hour
when； trusting to the promises of M。 de Villars； he had abandoned the
mountains where he was as much a king as Louis XIV at Versailles。 The
same evening he received orders to leave Paris and rejoin his
regiment at Macon。 He therefore set out the next morning； without
seeing M。 de Chamillard again。
Cavalier on arriving at Macon found that his comrades had had a visit
from M。 d'Aygaliers； who had come again to Paris； in the hope of
obtaining more from the king than M。 de Villars could or would grant。
Cavalier； without telling his comrades of the strange manner in which
the king had received him； gave them to understand that he was
beginning to fear that not only would the promises they had received
be broken； but that some strange trick would be played upon them。
Thereupon these men； whose chief and oracle he had been for so long；
asked him what they ought to do； Cavalier replied that if they would
follow him； their best course and his would be to take the first
opportunity of gaining the frontier and leaving the country。 They
all declared themselves ready to follow him anywhere。 This caused
Cavalier a new pang of regret； for he could not help recollecting
that he had once had under his command fifteen hundred men like
these。
The next day Cavalier and his comrades set out on their march without
knowing whither they were being taken； not having been able to obtain
any information as to their destination from their escorta silence
which confirmed them in their resolution。 As soon； therefore； as
they reached Onnan； Cavalier declared that he considered that the
looked…for opportunity had arrived； asking them if they were still in
the same mind： they returned that they would do whatever he advised。
Cavalier then ordered them to hold themselves in readiness； Daniel
offered up a prayer； and the prayer ended； the whole company deserted
in a body； and； crossing Mont Belliard； entered Porentruy； and took
the road to Lausanne。
Meantime d'Aygaliers； in his turn； arrived at Versailles； with
letters from M。 de Villars for the Duke of Beauvilliers； president of
the king's council； and for Chamillard。 The evening of his arrival
he delivered these letters to those to whom they were addressed； and
both gentlemen promised to present him to the king。
Four days later； Chamillard sent word to d'Aygaliers that he was to
be next day at the door of the king's chamber at the time when the
council entered。 D'Aygaliers was punctual； the king appeared at the
usual hour； and as he paused before