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them joined together to hire a guide who was to show them how to get
by Uzes without going through it； for they were afraid of meeting
with insult there。 The guide brought them as far as Montarem without
anyone opposing their passage or taking notice of their arms。
Suddenly a coachman named Bertrand； a confidential servant of Abbe
Rafin； former Grand…Vicar of Alais； and of Baroness Arnaud…Wurmeser
（for the abbe administered the estate of Aureillac in his own name
and that of the baroness）； galloped into the village of
Arpaillargues； which was almost entirely Protestant and consequently
Napoleonist； announcing that the miquelets （for after one hundred and
ten years the old name given to the royal troops was revived） were on
the way from Montarem； pillaging houses； murdering magistrates；
outraging women； and then throwing them out of the windows。 It is
easy to understand the effect of such a story。 The people gathered
together in groups； the mayor and his assistant being absent；
Bertrand was taken before a certain Boucarut； who on receiving his
report ordered the generale to be beaten and the tocsin to be rung。
Then the consternation became general： the men seized their muskets；
the women and children stones and pitchforks； and everyone made ready
to face a danger which only existed in the imagination of Bertrand；
for there was not a shadow of foundation for the story he had told。
While the village was in this state of feverish excitement the royal
volunteers came in sight。 Hardly were they seen than the cry； 〃There
they are！ There they are！〃 arose on all sides； the streets were
barricaded with carts； the tocsin rang out with redoubled frenzy； and
everyone capable of carrying arms rushed to the entrance of the
village。
The volunteers； hearing the uproar and seeing the hostile
preparations； halted； and to show that their intentions were
peaceful； put their shakos on their musket stocks and waved them
above their heads； shouting that no one need fear； for they would do
no harm to anyone。 But alarmed as they were by the terrible stories
told by Bertrand； the villagers shouted back that they could not
trust to such assurances； and that if they wanted to pass through the
village they must first give up their weapons。 It may easily be
imagined that men who had broken the convention in order to keep
their weapons were not likely to give them up to these villagersin
fact； they obstinately refused to let them out of their hands； and by
doing so increased the suspicions of the people。 A parley of a very
excited character took place between M。 Fournier for the royal guards
and M。 Boucarut； who was chosen spokesman by the villagers。 From
words they came to deeds： the miquelets tried to force their way
through； some shots were fired； and two miquelets； Calvet and
Fournier； fell。 The others scattered； followed by a lively
discharge； and two more miquelets were slightly wounded。 Thereupon
they all took to flight through the fields on either side of the
road； pursued for a short distance by the villagers； but soon
returned to examine the two wounded men； and a report was drawn up by
Antoine Robin； advocate and magistrate of the canton of Uzes； of the
events just related。
This accident was almost the only one of its kind which happened
during the Hundred Days： the two parties remained face to face；
threatening but self…controlled。 But let there be no mistake： there
was no peace； they were simply awaiting a declaration of war。 When
the calm was broken； it was from Marseilles that the provocation
came。 We shall efface ourselves for a time and let an eye…witness
speak； who being a Catholic cannot be suspected of partiality for the
Protestants。
〃I was living in Marseilles at the time of Napoleon's landing； and I
was a witness of the impression which the news produced upon
everyone。 There was one great cry； the enthusiasm was universal； the
National Guard wanted to join him to the last man； but Marshal
Massena did not give his consent until it was too late； for Napoleon
had already reached the mountains； and was moving with such swiftness
that it would have been impossible to overtake him。 Next we heard of
his triumphal entry into Lyons； and of his arrival in Paris during
the night。 Marseilles submitted like the rest of France； Prince
d'Essling was recalled to the capital； and Marshal Brune； who
commanded the 6th corps of observation； fixed his headquarters at
Marseilles。
〃With quite incomprehensible fickleness； Marseilles； whose name
during the Terror had been； as one may say； the symbol of the most
advanced opinions； had become almost entirely Royalist in 1815。
Nevertheless； its inhabitants saw without a murmur the tricolour flag
after a year's absence floating once more above the walls。 No
arbitrary interference on the part of the authorities； no threats；
and no brawling between the citizens and the soldiers； troubled the
peace of old Phocea； no revolution ever took place with such
quietness and facility。
〃It must； however； be said； that Marshal Brune was just the man to
accomplish such a transformation without friction； in him the
frankness and loyalty of an old soldier were combined with other
qualities more solid than brilliant。 Tacitus in hand； he looked on
at modern revolutions as they passed； and only interfered when the；
voice of his country called him to her defence。 The conqueror of
Harlem and Bakkun had been for four years forgotten in retirement； or
rather in exile； when the same voice which sent him away recalled
him； and at the summons Cincinnatus left his plough and grasped his
weapons。 Physically he was at this period a man of about fifty…five；
with a frank and open face framed by large whiskers； his head was
bald except for a little grizzled hair at the temples； he was tall
and active； and had a remarkably soldierly bearing。
〃I had been brought into contact with him by a report which one of my
friends and I had drawn up on the opinions of the people of the
South； and of which he had asked to have a copy。 In a long
conversation with us； he discussed the subject with the impartiality
of a man who brings an open mind to a debate； and he invited us to
come often to see him。 We enjoyed ourselves so much in his society
that we got into the habit of going to his house nearly every
evening。
〃On his arrival in the South an old calumny which had formerly
pursued him again made its appearance； quite rejuvenated by its long
sleep。 A writer whose name I have forgotten； in describing the
Massacres of the Second of September and the death of the unfortunate
Princesse de Lamballe； had said； 'Some people thought they recognised
in the man who carried her head impaled on a pike； General Brune in
disguise；' and this accusation； which had been caught up with
eagerness under the Consulate； still followed him so relentlessly in
1815； that hardly a day passed without his receiving an anonymous
letter； threatening him with the same fate which had overtaken the
princess。 One evening while we were with him such a letter arrived；
and having read it he passed it on to us。 It was as follows：
〃'Wretch；We are acquainted with all your crimes； for which you will
soon receive the chastisement you well deserve。 It was you who
during the revolution brought about the death of the Princesse de
Lamballe； it was you who carried her head on a pike； but your head
will be impaled on something longer。 If you are so rash as to be
present at the review of the Allies it is all up with you； and your
head will be stuck on the steeple of the Accoules。 Farewell；
SCOUNDREL！'
〃We advised him to trace this calumny to its source； and then to take
signal vengeance on the authors。 He paused an instant to reflect；
and then lit the letter at a candle； and looking at it thoughtfully
as it turned to ashes in his hand； said；Vengeance！ Yes； perhaps by
seeking that I could silence the authors of these slanders and
preserve the public tranquillity which they constantly imperil。 But
I prefer persuasion to severity。 My principle is； that it is better
to bring men's heads back to a right way of thinking than to cut them
off；