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people of his village to a dinner； and attempted to form them into a
body of guards to protect themselves against incendiaries and
brigands； along with the well…disposed men of the place 〃he
patrolled every evening to restore tranquillity to the parish。〃 On a
rumor spreading that 〃the wells were poisoned；〃 he placed sentinels
alongside of all the wells except his own； 〃to prove that he was
acting for the parish and not for himself。〃 In short； he did all he
could to conciliate the villagers； and to interest them in the
common safety。 … But； by virtue of being a noble and an officer he
is distrusted； and it is Perron； the syndic of the commune； to whom
the commune now listens。 Perron announces that the King 〃having
abjured his sworn word；〃 no more confidence is to be placed in him；
and； consequently； neither in his officers nor in the gentry。 On M。
de Bussy proposing to the National Guards that they should go to the
assistance of the chateau of Thil； which is in flames； Perron
prevents them； declaring that 〃these fires are kindled by the nobles
and the clergy。〃 M。 de Bussy insists； and entreats them to go；
offering to abandon 〃his terrier；〃 that is to say all his seignorial
dues； if they will only accompany him and arrest this destruction。
They refuse to do so。 He perseveres； and； on being informed that
the chateau of Juillenas is in peril； he collects； after great
efforts； a body of one hundred and fifty men of his parish； and；
marching with them； arrives in time to save the chateau； which a mob
was about to set on fire。 But the popular excitement； which he had
just succeeded in calming at Juillenas； has gained the upper hand
amongst his own troop： the brigands have seduced his men； 〃which
obliges him to lead them back； while； along the road； they seem
inclined to fire at him。〃 … Having returned； he is followed with
threats even to his own house： a band comes to attack his chateau；
finding it on the defensive； they insist on being led to that of
Courcelles。 … ？In the midst of all this violence M。 de Bussy； with
about fifteen friends and tenants； succeeds in protecting himself
and； by dint of patience； energy； and cool blood； without killing or
wounding a single man； ends in bringing back security throughout the
whole canton。 The jacquerie subsides； and it seems as if the newly
restored order would be maintained。 He sends for Madame de Bussy to
return； and some months pass away。 … The popular imagination；
however； is poisoned； and whatever a gentleman may do； he is no
longer tolerated on his estate。 A few leagues from there； on April
29； 1790； M。 de Bois…d'Aisy； deputy to the National Assembly； had
returned to his parish to vote at the new elections。＇12＇ 〃Scarcely
has he arrived；〃 when the commune of Bois…d'Aisy gives him notice
through its mayor 〃that it will not regard him as eligible。〃 He
attends the electoral meeting which is held in the church there； a
municipal officer in the pulpit inveighs against nobles and priests；
and declares that they must not take part in the elections。 All
eyes turn upon M。 de Boisd'Aisy； who is the only noble present。
Nevertheless； he takes the civic oath； which nearly costs him dear；
for murmurs arise around him； and the peasants say that he ought to
have been hanged like the lord of Sainte…Colombe； to prevent his
taking the oath。 In fact； the evening before； the latter； M。 de
Vitteaux； an old man of seventy…four years of age； was expelled from
the primary assembly； then torn out of the house in which he had
sought refuge； half killed with blows； and dragged through the
streets to the open square； his mouth was stuffed with manure； a
stick was thrust into his ears； and 〃he expired after a martyrdom of
three hours。〃 The same day； in the church of the Capuchins； at
Sémur； the rural parishes which met together excluded their priests
and gentry in the same fashion。 M。 de Damas and M。 de Sainte…Maure
were beaten with clubs and stones； the curé of Massigny died after
six stabs with a knife； and M。 de Virieu saved himself as he best
could。 … With such examples before them it is probable that many
of the nobles will no longer exercise their right of suffrage。 M。
de Bussy does not pretend to do it。 He merely tries to prove that
he is loyal to the nation； and that he meditates no wrong to the
National Guard or to the people。 He proposed； at the out…set； to
the volunteers of Ma？on to join them； along with his little troop；
they refused to have him and thus the fault is not on his side。 On
the 14th of July； 1790； the day of the Federation on his domain； he
sends all his people off to Villiers； furnished with the tricolour
cockade。 He himself； with three of his friends； attends the
ceremony to take the oath； all four in uniform； with the cockade on
their hats； without any weapons but their swords and a light cane in
their hands。 They salute the assembled National Guards of the three
neighboring parishes； and keep outside the enclosure so as not to
give offense。 But they have not taken into account the prejudices
and animosities of the new municipal bodies。 Perron； the former
syndic； is now mayor。 A man named Bailly； who is the village
shoemaker； is another of the municipal officers； their councilor is
an old dragoon； one of those soldiers probably who have deserted or
been discharged； and who are the firebrands of almost every riot
that takes place。 A squad of a dozen or fifteen men leave the ranks
and march up to the four gentlemen； who advance； hat in hand； to
meet them。 Suddenly the men aim at them； and Bailly； with a furious
air； demands： 〃What the devil do you come here for？〃 M。 de Bussy
replies that； having been informed of the Federation； he had come to
take the oath like the rest of the people。 Bailly asks why he had
come armed。 M。 de Bussy remarks that 〃having been in the service；
the sword was inseparable from the uniform；〃 and had they come there
without that badge they would have been at fault； besides； they must
have observed that they had no other arms。 Bailly； still in a rage；
and； moreover； exasperated by such good reasons； turns round with
his gun in his hand towards the leader of the squad and asks him
three times in succession； 〃Commander； must I fire？〃 The commander
not daring to take the responsibility of so gratuitous a murder；
remains silent； and finally orders M。 de Bussy to 〃clear out；〃
〃which I did；〃 says M。 de Bussy。 … Nevertheless； on reaching home；
he writes to the municipal authorities clearly setting forth the
motive of his coming； and demands an explanation of the treatment he
had received。 Mayor Perron throws aside his letter without reading
it； and； on the following day； on leaving the mass； the National
Guards come； by way of menace； to load their guns in sight of M。 de
Bussy； round his garden。 … A few days after this； at the instigation
of Bailly； two other proprietors in the neighborhood are
assassinated in their houses。 Finally； on a journey to Lyons； M。 de
Bussy learns 〃that the chateaux in Poitou are again in flames； and
that the work is to begin again everywhere。〃 … Alarmed at all
these indications； 〃he resolves to form a company of volunteers；
which； taking up their quarters in his chateau； can serve the whole
canton on a legal requisition。〃 He thinks that about fifteen brave
men will be sufficient。 He has already six men with him in the
month of October； 1790； green coats are ordered for them； and
buttons are bought for the uniform。 Seven or eight domestics may be
added to the number。 In the way of arms and munitions the chateau
contains two kegs of gunpowder which were on hand before 1789； seven
blunderbusses； and five cavalry sabers； left there in passing by M。
de Bussy's old dragoons： to these must be added two double…barreled
fowling…pieces； three soldiers' muskets； five brace of pistols； two
poor common guns； two old swords； and a hunting…knife。 Such is the
garrison； such the arsenal； and these are the preparations； so well
justified and so slight； which prejudice conjointly with gossip is
about to transform into a great conspiracy。
The chateau； in effect； was an object of suspicion in the village
from the very first day。 All its visitors； whenever they went out
or came in； with all the details of their actions； were watched；
denounced； exaggerated； and misinterpreted。 If through the
awkwardness or carelessness of so many inexperienced National
Guards； a stray ball reaches a farm…house one day in broad daylight；
it comes from the chateau； it is the aristocrats who have fired upon
the peasants。 … There is the same state of suspicion in the
neighboring towns。 The municipal body of Valence； hearing that two
youths had ordered coats made 〃of a color which seemed suspicious；〃
send for the tailor； he confesses the fact； and adds that 〃they
intended to put the buttons on themselves。〃 Such a detail is
alarming。 An inquiry is set o