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the Loulle gate； followed by a second carriage in which were his
aides…de…camp； he regained the 〃Palais Royal；〃 the doors of which
were opened to him and his suite； and immediately secured against all
others。
The marshal asked to be shown to a room； and M。 Moulin gave him
No。 1； to the front。 In ten minutes three thousand people filled the
square； it was as if the population sprang up from the ground。 Just
then the carriage； which the marshal had left behind； came up； the
postillion having tied the traces； and a second time the great yard
gates were opened； and in spite of the press closed again and
barricaded by the porter Vernet； and M。 Moulin himself； both of whom
were men of colossal strength。 The aides…de…camp； who had remained
in the carriage until then； now alighted； and asked to be shown to
the marshal； but Moulin ordered the porter to conceal them in an
outhouse。 Vernet taking one in each hand； dragged them off despite
their struggles； and pushing them behind some empty barrels； over
which he threw an old piece of carpet； said to them in a voice as
solemn as if he were a prophet； 〃If you move； you are dead men；〃 and
left them。 The aides…de…camp remained there motionless and silent。
At that moment M。 de Saint…Chamans； prefect of Avignon； who had
arrived in town at five o'clock in the morning； came out into the
courtyard。 By this time the crowd was smashing the windows and
breaking in the street door。 The square was full to overflowing；
everywhere threatening cries were heard； and above all the terrible
zaou； which from moment to moment became more full of menace。
M。 Moulin saw that if they could not hold out until the troops under
Major Lambot arrived； all was lost； he therefore told Vernet to
settle the business of those who were breaking in the door； while he
would take charge of those who were trying to get in at the window。
Thus these two men； moved by a common impulse and of equal courage；
undertook to dispute with a howling mob the possession of the blood
for which it thirsted。
Both dashed to their posts； one in the hall； the other in the
dining…room； and found door and windows already smashed； and several
men in the house。 At the sight of Vernet； with whose immense
strength they were acquainted； those in the hall drew back a step；
and Vernet； taking advantage of this movement； succeeded in ejecting
them and in securing the door once more。 Meantime M。 Moulin； seizing
his double…barrelled gun； which stood in the chimney…corner； pointed
it at five men who had got into the dining…room； and threatened to
fire if they did not instantly get out again。 Four obeyed； but one
refused to budge； whereupon Moulin； finding himself no longer
outnumbered； laid aside his gun； and； seizing his adversary round the
waist； lifted him as if he were a child and flung him out of the
window。 The man died three weeks later； not from the fall but from
the squeeze。
Moulin then dashed to the window to secure it； but as he laid his
hand on it he felt his head seized from behind and pressed violently
down on his left shoulder； at the same instant a pane was broken into
splinters； and the head of a hatchet struck his right shoulder。
M。 de Saint…Chamans； who had followed him into the room； had seen the
weapon thrown at Moulin's head； and not being able to turn aside the
iron； had turned aside the object at which it was aimed。 Moulin
seized the hatchet by the handle and tore it out of the hands of him
who had delivered the blow； which fortunately had missed its aim。 He
then finished closing the window； and secured it by making fast the
inside shutters； and went upstairs to see after the marshal。
Him he found striding up and down his room； his handsome and noble
face as calm as if the voices of all those shouting men outside were
not demanding his death。 Moulin made him leave No。 1 for No。 3；
which； being a back room and looking out on the courtyard； seemed to
offer more chances of safety than the other。 The marshal asked for
writing materials； which Moulin brought； whereupon the marshal sat
down at a little table and began to write。
Just then the cries outside became still more uproarious。 M。 de
Saint…Chamans had gone out and ordered the crowd to disperse；
whereupon a thousand people had answered him with one voice； asking
who he was that he should give such an order。 He announced his rank
and authority； to which the answer was； 〃We only know the prefect by
his clothes。〃 Now it had unfortunately happened that M。 de Chamans
having sent his trunks by diligence they had not yet arrived； and
being dressed in a green coat； nankeen trousers； and a pique vest； it
could hardly be expected that in such a suit he should overawe the
people under the circumstances； so； when he got up on a bench to
harangue the populace； cries arose of 〃Down with the green coat！ We
have enough of charlatans like that！〃 and he was forced to get down
again。 As Vernet opened the door to let him in； several men took
advantage of the circumstance to push in along with him； but Vernet
let his fist fall three times； and three men rolled at his feet like
bulls struck by a club。 The others withdrew。 A dozen champions such
as Vernet would have saved the marshal。 Yet it must not be forgotten
that this man was a Royalist； and held the same opinions as those
against whom he fought； for him as for them the marshal was a mortal
enemy； but he had a noble heart； and if the marshal were guilty he
desired a trial and not a murder。 Meantime a certain onlooker had
heard what had been said to M。 de Chamans about his unofficial
costume； and had gone to put on his uniform。 This was M。 de Puy； a
handsome and venerable old man； with white hair； pleasant expression；
and winning voice。 He soon came back in his mayor's robes； wearing
his scarf and his double cross of St。 Louis and the Legion of Honour。
But neither his age nor his dignity made the slightest impression on
these people； they did not even allow him to get back to the hotel
door； but knocked him down and trampled him under foot； so that he
hardly escaped with torn clothes and his white hair covered with dust
and blood。 The fury of the mob had now reached its height。
At this juncture the garrison of Avignon came in sight； it was
composed of four hundred volunteers； who formed a battalion known as
the Royal Angouleme。 It was commanded by a man who had assumed the
title of Lieutenant…General of the Emancipating Army of Vaucluse。
These forces drew up under the windows of the 〃Palais Royal。〃 They
were composed almost entirely of Provenceaux； and spoke the same
dialect as the people of the lower orders。 The crowd asked the
soldiers for what they had come； why they did not leave them to
accomplish an act of justice in peace； and if they intended to
interfere。 〃Quite the contrary；〃 said one of the soldiers； 〃pitch
him out of the window； and we will catch him on the points of our
bayonets。〃 Brutal cries of joy greeted this answer； succeeded by a
short silence； but it was easy to see that under the apparent calm
the crowd was in a state of eager expectation。 Soon new shouts were
heard； but this time from the interior of the hotel； a small band of
men led by Forges and Roquefort had separated themselves from the
throng； and by the help of ladders had scaled the walls and got on
the roof of the house； and； gliding down the other side； had dropped
into the balcony outside the windows of the rooms where the marshal
was writing。
Some of these dashed through the windows without waiting to open
them； others rushed in at the open door。 The marshal； thus taken by
surprise； rose； and not wishing that the letter he was writing to the
Austrian commandant to claim his protection should fall into the
hands of these wretches； he tore it to pieces。 Then a man who
belonged to a better class than the others； and who wears to…day the
Cross of the Legion of Honour； granted to him perhaps for his conduct
on this occasion； advanced towards the marshal； sword in hand； and
told him if he had any last arrangements to make； he should make them
at once； for he had only ten minutes to live。
〃What are you thinking