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under the feet of his horse in their efforts to kiss the skirts of
his coat。 It was more like a victor making his entry into a
conquered town than a rebel chief coming to beg for an amnesty for
himself and his adherents。 M。 de Villars heard the outcry from the
garden of Recollets； and when he learned its cause his esteem for
Cavalier rose higher； for every day since his arrival as governor had
showed him more and more clearly how great was the young chief's
influence。 The tumult increased as Cavalier came nearer； and it
flashed through the marechal's mind that instead of giving hostages
he should have claimed them。 At this moment Cavalier appeared at the
gate； and seeing the marechal's guard drawn up in line； he caused his
own to form a line opposite them。 The memoirs of the time tell us
that he was dressed in a coffee…coloured coat； with a very full white
muslin cravat； he wore a cross…belt from which depended his sword；
and on his head a gold…laced hat of black felt。 He was mounted on a
magnificent bay horse； the same which he had taken from M。 de La
Jonquiere on the bloody day of Vergenne。
The lieutenant of the guard met him at the gate。 Cavalier quickly
dismounted； and throwing the bridle of his horse to one of his men；
he entered the garden； and advanced towards the expectant group；
which was composed； as we have said； of Villars； Baville； and
Sandricourt。 As he drew near； M。 de Villars regarded him with
growing astonishment； for he could not believe that in the young
man； or rather boy； before him he saw the terrible Cevenol chief；
whose name alone made the bravest soldiers tremble。 Cavalier at this
period had just completed his twenty…fourth year； but； thanks to his
fair hair which fell in long locks over his shoulders； and to the
gentle expression of his eyes he did not appear more than eighteen。
Cavalier was acquainted with none of the men in whose presence he
stood； but he noticed M。 de Villars' rich dress and air of command。
He therefore saluted him first； afterwards； turning towards the
others； he bowed to each； but less profoundly； then somewhat
embarrassed and with downcast eyes be stood motionless and silent。
The marechal still continued to look at him in silent astonishment；
turning from time to time to Baville and Sandricourt； as if to assure
himself that there was no mistake and that it was really the man whom
they expected who stood before them。 At last； doubting still； in
spite of the signs they made to reassure him； he asked
〃Are you really Jean Cavalier？〃
〃Yes； monseigneur；〃 was the reply； given in an unsteady voice。
〃But I mean Jean Cavalier； the Camisard general； he who has assumed
the title of Duke of the Cevennes。〃
〃I have not assumed that title； monseigneur； only some people call me
so in joke： the king alone has the right to confer titles； and I
rejoice exceedingly； monseigneur； that he has given you that of
governor of Languedoc。〃
〃When you are speaking of the king； why do you not say 'His
Majesty'？〃 said M。 de Baville。 〃Upon my soul； the king is too good
to treat thus with a rebel。〃
The blood rushed to Cavalier's head； his face flamed； and after a
moment's pause； fixing his eye boldly upon M。 de Baville； and
speaking in a voice which was now as firm as it had been tremulous a
moment before； he said； 〃If you have only brought me here； sir； to
speak to me in such a manner； you might better have left me in my
mountains； and come there yourself to take a lesson in hospitality。
If I am a rebel； it is not I who am answerable； for it was the
tyranny and cruelty of M。 de Baville which forced us to have recourse
to arms； and if history takes exception to anything connected with
the great monarch for whose pardon I sue to…day； it will be； I hope；
not that he had foes like me； but friends like him。〃
M。 de Baville grew pale with anger； for whether Cavalier knew to whom
he was speaking or not； his words had the effect of a violent blow
full in his face； but before he could reply M。 de Villars interposed。
〃Your business is only with me； sir；〃 he said； 〃 attend to me alone；
I beg： I speak in the name of the king； and the king； of his
clemency； wishes to spare his subjects by treating them with
tenderness。〃
Cavalier opened his mouth to reply； but the intendant cut him short。
〃I should hope that that suffices；〃 he said contemptuously： 〃as
pardon is more than you could have hoped for； I suppose you are not
going to insist on the other conditions you laid down？〃
〃But it is precisely those other conditions；〃 said Cavalier；
addressing himself to M。 de Villars； and not seeming to see that
anyone else was present； 〃for which we have fought。 If I were alone；
sir； I should give myself up； bound hand and foot； with entire
confidence in your good faith； demanding no assurances and exacting
no conditions； but I stand here to defend the interests of my
brethren and friends who trust me； and what is more； things have gone
so far that we must either die weapon in hand； or obtain our rights。〃
The intendant was about to speak； but the marechal stopped him with
such an imperative gesture that he stepped back as if to show that he
washed his hands of the whole matter。
〃What are those rights？ Are they those which M。 Lalande has
transmitted to me by word of mouth？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃It would be well to commit them to writing。〃
〃I have done so； monseigneur； and sent a copy to M。 d'Aygaliers。〃
〃I have not seen it； sir； make me another copy and place it in my
hands； I beg。〃
〃I shall go and set about it directly； monseigneur；〃 stepping back as
if about to withdraw。
〃One moment！〃 said the marechal； detaining him by a smile。 〃Is it
true that you are willing to enter the king's army？〃
〃I am more than willing； I desire it with all my heart；〃 exclaimed
Cavalier； with the frank enthusiasm natural to his age； 〃but I cannot
do so till our just demands are granted。〃
〃But if they were granted？〃
〃Then； sir；〃 replied Cavalier； 〃the king has never had more loyal
subjects than we shall be。〃
〃Well； have a little patience and everything will be arranged； I
hope。〃
〃May God grant it！〃 said Cavalier。 〃He is my witness that we desire
peace beyond everything。〃 And he took another step backwards。
〃You will not go too far away； I hope；〃 said the marechal。
〃We shall remain wherever your excellency may appoint；〃 said
Cavalier。
Very well；〃 continued M。 de Villars； 〃halt at Calvisson； and try all
you can to induce the other leaders to follow your example。〃
〃I shall do my best； monseigneur； but while we await His Majesty's
reply shall we be allowed to fulfil our religious duties unimpeded？〃
〃Yes； I shall give orders that you are to have full liberty in that
respect。〃
〃Thanks； monseigneur。〃
Cavalier bowed once more； and was about to go； but M。 de Villars
accompanied him and Lalande； who had now joined them； and who stood
with his hand on Cavalier's shoulder； a few steps farther。 Catinat
seeing that the conference was at an end； entered the garden with his
men。 Thereupon M。 de Villars took leave； saying distinctly； 〃 Adieu；
Seigneur Cavalier；〃 and withdrew； leaving the young chief surrounded
by a dozen persons all wanting to speak to him at once。 For half an
hour he was detained by questions； to all of which he replied
pleasantly。 On one finger was an emerald taken from a naval officer
named Didier； whom he had killed with his own hand in the action at
Devois de Martignargues； he kept time by a superb watch which had
belonged to M。 d'Acqueville； the second in command of the marines；
and he offered his questioners from time to time perfumed snuff from
a magnificent snuffbox； which he had found in the holsters when he
took possession of M。 de La Jonquiere's horse。 He told everyone who
wished to listen that he had never intended to revolt against the
king； and that he was now ready to shed the last drop of his blood in
his service； that he had several times offered to surrender on
condition that liberty of conscience was granted to those of the new
faith； but that M。 de Montrevel had always rejected his offers； so
that he had been obliged to remain under arms； in order to deliver
those who were in prison； and to gain permission for those who were
free to worship God in their own way。
He said these things in an unembarrassed and graceful manner； hat in
hand； then passing through the crowd which had gathered outside the
garden of the Recollets； he repaired to the Hotel de la Poste for
lunch； and afterwards walked along the Esplanade to the house of one
Guy Billard； a gardener； who was his head prophet's father。 As he
thus moved about he was preceded by two Camisards with drawn swords；
who made way for him； and several ladies were presented to him who
were happy to touch his doublet。 The visit over； he once again
passed along the Esplanade； still preceded by his two Camisards； and
just as he passed the Little Convent he and those with him struck up
a psalm tune； and continued singing till they reached Saint…Cesaire；
where the hostages were。 These he at once sent back。
Five hundred persons from Nimes were awaiting him； refreshments were
offered to him； w