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destination the same evening。
〃We had not been misinformed； frays having already taken place in the
streets which had heated public opinion。 One man had been killed on
the Esplanade by a musket shot； and it seemed as if his death would
be only the forerunner of many。 The Catholics were awaiting with
impatience the arrival of those doughty warriors from Beaucaire on
whom they placed their chief reliance。 The Protestants went about in
painful silence； and fear blanched every face。 At length the white
flag was hoisted and the king proclaimed without any of the disorders
which had been dreaded taking place； but it was plainly visible that
this calm was only a pause before a struggle； and that on the
slightest pretext the pent…up passions would break loose again。
〃Just at this time the memory of our quiet life in the mountains
inspired us with a happy idea。 We had learned that the obstinate
resolution of Marshal Brune never to acknowledge Louis XVIII as king
had been softened； and that the marshal had been induced to hoist the
white flag at Toulon； while with a cockade in his hat he had formally
resigned the command of that place into the hands of the royal
authorities。
〃Henceforward in all Provence there was no spot where he could live
unmarked。 His ultimate intentions were unknown to us； indeed his
movements seemed to show great hesitation on his part； so it occurred
to us to offer him our little country house as a refuge where he
could await the arrival of more peaceful times。 We decided that
M____ and another friend of ours who had just arrived from Paris
should go to him and make the offer； which he would at once accept
all the more readily because it came from the hearts which were
deeply devoted to him。 They set out； but to my great surprise
returned the same day。 They brought us word that Marshal Brune had
been assassinated at Avignon。
〃At first we could not believe the dreadful news； and took it for one
of those ghastly rumours which circulate with such rapidity during
periods of civil strife； but we were not left long in uncertainty；
for the details of the catastrophe arrived all too soon。〃
CHAPTER VIII
For some days Avignon had its assassins； as Marseilles had had them；
and as Nimes was about to have them； for some days all Avignon
shuddered at the names of five menPointu； Farges； Roquefort；
Naudaud； and Magnan。
Pointu was a perfect type of the men of the South； olive…skinned and
eagle…eyed； with a hook nose； and teeth of ivory。 Although he was
hardly above middle height； and his back was bent from bearing heavy
burdens； his legs bowed by the pressure of the enormous masses which
he daily carried； he was yet possessed of extraordinary strength and
dexterity。 He could throw over the Loulle gate a 48…pound cannon
ball as easily as a child could throw its ball。 He could fling a
stone from one bank of the Rhone to the other where it was two
hundred yards wide。 And lastly； he could throw a knife backwards
while running at full speed with such strength and precision of aim
that this new kind of Parthian arrow would go whistling through the
air to hide two inches of its iron head in a tree trunk no thicker
than a man's thigh。 When to these accomplishments are added an equal
skill with the musket； the pistol； and the quarter…staff； a good deal
of mother wit； a deep hatred for Republicans； against whom he had
vowed vengeance at the foot of the scaffold on which his father and
mother had perished； an idea can be formed of the terrible chief of
the assassins of Avignon； who had for his lieutenants； Farges the
silk…weaver； Roquefort the porter； Naudaud the baker； and Magnan the
secondhand clothes dealer。
Avignon was entirely in the power of these five men； whose brutal
conduct the civil and military authorities would not or could not
repress； when word came that Marshal Brune； who was at Luc in command
of six thousand troops； had been summoned to Paris to give an account
of his conduct to the new Government。
The marshal； knowing the state of intense excitement which prevailed
in the South； and foreseeing the perils likely to meet him on the
road； asked permission to travel by water； but met with an official
refusal； and the Duc de Riviere； governor of Marseilles； furnished
him with a safe…conduct。 The cut…throats bellowed with joy when they
learned that a Republican of '89； who had risen to the rank of
marshal under the Usurper； was about to pass through Avignon。 At the
same time sinister reports began to run from mouth to mouth； the
harbingers of death。 Once more the infamous slander which a hundred
times had been proved to be false； raised its voice with dogged
persistence； asserting that Brune； who did not arrive at Paris until
the 5th of September； 1792； had on the 2nd； when still at Lyons；
carried the head of the Princesse de Lamballe impaled on a pike。
Soon the news came that the marshal had just escaped assassination at
Aix； indeed he owed his safety to the fleetness of his horses。
Pointu； Forges； and Roquefort swore that they would manage things
better at Avignon。
By the route which the marshal had chosen there were only two ways
open by which he could reach Lyons： he must either pass through
Avignon； or avoid it by taking a cross…road； which branched off the
Pointet highway； two leagues outside the town。 The assassins thought
he would take the latter course； and on the 2nd of August； the day on
which the marshal was expected； Pointu； Magnan； and Naudaud； with
four of their creatures； took a carriage at six o'clock in the
morning； and； setting out from the Rhone bridge； hid themselves by
the side of the high road to Pointet。
When the marshal reached the point where the road divided； having
been warned of the hostile feelings so rife in Avignon； he decided to
take the cross…road upon which Pointu and his men were awaiting him；
but the postillion obstinately refused to drive in this direction；
saying that he always changed horses at Avignon； and not at Pointet。
One of the marshal's aides…de…camp tried； pistol in hand； to force
him to obey； but the marshal would permit no violence to be offered
him； and gave him orders to go on to Avignon。
The marshal reached the town at nine o'clock in the morning； and
alighted at the Hotel du Palais Royal； which was also the post…house。
While fresh horses were being put to and the passports and safe…
conduct examined at the Loulle gate； the marshal entered the hotel to
take a plate of soup。 In less than five minutes a crowd gathered
round the door； and M。 Moulin the proprietor noticing the sinister
and threatening expression many of the faces bore； went to the
marshal's room and urged him to leave instantly without waiting for
his papers； pledging his word that he would send a man on horseback
after him； who would overtake him two or three leagues beyond the
town； and bring him his own safe…conduct and the passports of his
aides…de…camp。 The marshal came downstairs； and finding the horses
ready； got into the carriage； on which loud murmurs arose from the
populace； amongst which could be distinguished the terrible word
'zaou！' that excited cry of the Provencal； which according to the
tone in which it is uttered expresses every shade of threat； and
which means at once in a single syllable； 〃 Bite； rend； kill；
murder！〃
The marshal set out at a gallop； and passed the town gates
unmolested； except by the howlings of the populace； who； however；
made no attempt to stop him。 He thought he had left all his enemies
behind； but when he reached the Rhone bridge he found a group of men
armed with muskets waiting there； led by Farges and Roquefort。 They
all raised their guns and took aim at the marshal； who thereupon
ordered the postillion to drive back。 The order was obeyed； but when
the carriage had gone about fifty yards it was met by the crowd from
the 〃Palais Royal；〃 which had followed it； so the postillion stopped。
In a moment the traces were cut； whereupon the marshal； opening the
door； alighted； followed by his valet； and passing on foot through
the Loulle gate； followed by a second carriage in which were his
aides…de…camp； h