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to bring men's heads back to a right way of thinking than to cut them
off； and to be regarded as a weak man rather than as a bloodthirsty
one。'
〃The essence of Marshal Brune's character was contained in these
words。
〃Public tranquillity was indeed twice endangered at Marseilles during
the Hundred Days； and both times in the same manner。 The garrison
officers used to gather at a coffee…house in the place Necker； and
sing songs suggested by passing events。 This caused an attack by the
townspeople； who broke the windows by throwing stones； some of which
struck the officers。 These rushed out； crying； 'To arms！' The
townspeople were not slow to respond； but the commandant ordered the
'geneydle' to beat； sent out numerous patrols； and succeeded in
calming the excitement and restoring quietness without any
casualties。
〃The day of the Champ du Mai orders for a general illumination were
given； and that the tricolour flag should be displayed from the
windows。 The greater number of the inhabitants paid no attention to
the desires of the authorities； and the officers being annoyed at
this neglect； indulged in reprehensible excesses； which； however；
resulted in nothing mare serious than some broken windows belonging
to houses which had not illuminated； and in some of the householders
being forced to illuminate according to order。
〃In Marseilles as in the rest of France； people began to despair of
the success of the royal cause； and those who represented this cause；
who were very numerous at Marseilles； gave up annoying the military
and seemed to resign themselves to their fate。 Marshal Brune had
left the city to take up his post on the frontier； without any of the
dangers with which he was threatened having come across his path。
〃The 25th of June arrived； and the news of the successes obtained at
Fleurus and at Ligny seemed to justify the hopes of the soldiers；
when； in the middle of the day； muttered reports began to spread in
the town； the distant reverberations of the cannon of Waterloo。 The
silence of the leaders； the uneasiness of the soldiers； the delight
of the Royalists； foretold the outbreak of a new struggle； the；
results of which it was easy to anticipate。 About four o'clock in
the afternoon； a man； who had probably got earlier information than
his fellow…townspeople； tore off his tricoloured cockade and trampled
it under foot； crying； 〃Long live the king！〃 The angry soldiers
seized him and were about to drag him to the guard…house； but the
National Guards prevented them； and their interference led to a
fight。 Shouts were heard on all sides； a large ring was formed round
the soldiers； a few musket shots heard； others answered； three or
four men fell； and lay there weltering in their blood。 Out of this
confused uproar the word 〃Waterloo〃 emerged distinct； and with this
unfamiliar name pronounced for the first time in the resounding voice
of history； the news of the defeat of the French army and the triumph
of the Allies spread apace。 Then General Verdier； who held the chief
command in the absence of Marshal Brune； tried to harangue the
people； but his voice was drowned by the shouts of the mob who had
gathered round a coffee…house where stood a bust of the emperor；
which they insisted should be given up to them。 Verdier； hoping to
calm； what he took to be a simple street row； gave orders that the
bust should be brought out； and this concession； so significant on
the part of a general commanding in the emperor's name； convinced the
crowd that his cause was lost。 The fury of the populace grew greater
now that they felt that they could indulge it with impunity； they ran
to the Town Hall； and tearing down and burning the tricoloured；
raised the white flag。 The roll of the generale； the clang of the
tocsin were heard； the neighbouring villages poured in their
populations and increased the throng in the streets； single acts of
violence began to occur； wholesale massacres were approaching。 I had
arrived in the town with my friend M____ the very beginning of the
tumult； so we had seen the dangerous agitation and excitement grow
under our eyes； but we were still ignorant of its true cause； when；
in the rue de Noailles； we met an acquaintance； who； although his
political opinions did not coincide with ours； had always shown
himself very friendly to us。 'Well；' said I； 'what news？' 'Good for
me and bad for you；' he answered；' I advise you to go away at once。'
Surprised and somewhat alarmed at these words； we begged him to
explain。 'Listen；' said he； 'there are going to be riots in the
town； it is well known that you used to go to Brune's nearly every
evening； and that you are in consequence no favourite with your
neighbours； seek safety in the country。' I addressed some further
question to him； but； turning his back on me； he left me without
another word。
〃M_____ and I were still looking at each other in stupefaction； when
the increasing uproar aroused us to a sense that if we desired to
follow the advice just given we had not a moment to lose。 We hastened
to my house； which was situated in the Allees de Meilhan。 My wife was
just going out； but I stopped her。
〃'We are not safe here；' I said； 'we must get away into the country。'
〃'But where can we go？'
〃'Wherever luck takes us。 Let us start。'
〃She was going to put on her bonnet； but I told her to leave it
behind； for it was most important that no one should think we
suspected anything； but were merely going for a stroll。 This
precaution saved us； for we learned the next day that if our
intention to fly had been suspected we should have been stopped。
〃We walked at random； while behind us we heard musket shots from
every part of the town。 We met a company of soldiers who were
hurrying to the relief of their comrades； but heard later that they
had not been allowed to pass the gate。
〃We recollected an old officer of our acquaintance who had quitted
the service and withdrawn from the world some years before； and had
taken a place in the country near the village of Saint…Just； we
directed our course towards his house。
〃'Captain；' said I to him； 'they are murdering each other in the
town； we are pursued and without asylum； so we come to you。' 'That's
right； my children；' said he； 'come in and welcome。 I have never
meddled with political affairs； and no one can have anything against
me。 No one will think of looking for you here。'
〃The captain had friends in the town； who； one after another； reached
his house； and brought us news of all that went on during that
dreadful day。 Many soldiers had been killed； and the Mamelukes had
been annihilated。 A negress who had been in the service of these
unfortunates had been taken on the quay。 'Cry 〃Long live the king！〃'
shouted the mob。 'No；' she replied。 'To Napoleon I owe my daily
bread； long live Napoleon！' A bayonet…thrust in the abdomen was the
answer。 'Villains！' said she； covering the wound with her hand to
keep back the protruding entrails。 'Long live Napoleon！' A push
sent her into the water； she sank； but rose again to the surface； and
waving her hand； she cried for the last time； 'Long live Napoleon！' a
bullet shot putting an end to her life。
〃Several of the townspeople had met with shocking deaths。 For
instance； M。 Angles； a neighbour of mine； an old man and no
inconsiderable scholar； having unfortunately； when at the palace some
days before； given utterance before witnesses to the sentiment that
Napoleon was a great man； learned that for this crime he was about to
be arrested。 Yielding to the prayers of his family； he disguised
himself； and； getting into a waggon； set off to seek safety in the
country。 He was； however； recognised and brought a prisoner to the
place du Chapitre； where； after being buffeted about and insulted for
an hour by the populace； he was at last murdered。
〃It may easily be imagined that although no one came to disturb us we
did not sleep much that night。 The ladies rested on sofas or in
arm…chairs without undressing； while our host； M_____ and myself took
turns in guarding the door； gun in hand。
〃As soon as it was light we consulted what co