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appreciate the zeal and the courage which have distinguished your
conduct and that of your family； they have therefore instructed us to
assure you of the pleasure with which they will welcome you among
those nobles who are under the orders of Marshal de Castries； and
that you are at liberty to repair to Lorch to assume your proper rank
in one of the companies。
〃We have the honour to be； monsieur； your humble and obedient
servants；
COMTE DE TOULOUSE…LAUTREC
MARQUIS DE LA JONQUIERE
ETC。
CHAPTER VII
The Protestants； as we have said； hailed the golden dawn of the
revolution with delight； then came the Terror； which struck at all
without distinction of creed。 A hundred and thirty…eight heads fell
on the scaffold； condemned by the revolutionary tribunal of the Gard。
Ninety…one of those executed were Catholic； and forty…seven
Protestants； so that it looked as if the executioners in their desire
for impartiality had taken a census of the population。
Then came the Consulate： the Protestants being mostly tradesmen and
manufacturers； were therefore richer than the Catholics； and had more
to lose； they seemed to see more chance of stability in this form of
government than in those preceding it； and it was evident that it had
a more powerful genius at its head； so they rallied round it with
confidence and sincerity。 The Empire followed； with its inclination
to absolutism； its Continental system； and its increased taxation；
and the Protestants drew back somewhat； for it was towards them who
had hoped so much from him that Napoleon in not keeping the promises
of Bonaparte was most perjured。
The first Restoration； therefore； was greeted at Nimes with a
universal shout of joy； and a superficial…observer might have thought
that all trace of the old religious leaven had disappeared。 In fact；
for seventeen years the two faiths had lived side by side in perfect
peace and mutual good…will； for seventeen years men met either for
business or for social purposes without inquiring about each other's
religion； so that Nimes on the surface might have been held up as an
example of union and fraternity。
When Monsieur arrived at Nimes； his guard of honour was drawn from
the city guard； which still retained its organisation of 1812； being
composed of citizens without distinction of creed。 Six decorations
were conferred on itthree on Catholics； and three on Protestants。
At the same time； M。 Daunant； M。 Olivier Desmonts； and M。 de Seine；
the first the mayor； the second the president of the Consistory； and
the third a member of the Prefecture； all three belonging to the
Reformed religion； received the same favour。
Such impartiality on the part of Monsieur almost betrayed a
preference； and this offended the Catholics。 They muttered to one
another that in the past there had been a time when the fathers of
those who had just been decorated by the hand of the prince had
fought against his faithful adherents。 Hardly had Monsieur left the
town； therefore； than it became apparent that perfect harmony no
longer existed。
The Catholics had a favorite caf？； which during the whole time the
Empire lasted was also frequented by Protestants without a single
dispute caused by the difference of religion ever arising。 But from
this time forth the Catholics began to hold themselves aloof from the
Protestants； the latter perceiving this； gave up the caf？ by degrees
to the Catholics； being determined to keep the peace whatever it
might cost； and went to a caf？ which had been just opened under the
sign of the 〃Isle of Elba。〃 The name was enough to cause them to be
regarded as Bonapartists； and as to Bonapartists the cry 〃Long live
the king！〃 was supposed to be offensive； they were saluted at every
turn with these words； pronounced in a tone which became every day
more menacing。 At first they gave back the same cry； 〃Long live the
king！〃 but then they were called cowards who expressed with their
lips a sentiment which did not come from their hearts。 Feeling that
this accusation had some truth in it； they were silent； but then they
were accused of hating the royal family； till at length the cry which
at first had issued from full hearts in a universal chorus grew to be
nothing but an expression of party hatred； so that on the 21st
February； 1815； M。 Daunant the mayor； by a decree； prohibited the
public from using it； as it had become a means of exciting sedition。
Party feeling had reached this height at Nimes when； on the 4th
March； the news of the landing of Napoleon arrived。
Deep as was the impression produced； the city remained calm； but
somewhat sullen； in any case； the report wanted confirmation。
Napoleon； who knew of the sympathy that the mountaineers felt for
him； went at once into the Alps； and his eagle did not as yet take so
high a flight that it could be seen hovering above Mount Geneve。
On the 12th； the Duc d'Angouleme arrived： two proclamations calling
the citizens to arms signalised his presence。 The citizens answered
the call with true Southern ardour： an army was formed； but although
Protestants and Catholics presented themselves for enrolment with
equal alacrity； the Protestants were excluded； the Catholics denying
the right of defending their legitimate sovereign to any but
themselves。
This species of selection apparently went on without the knowledge of
the Duc d'Angouleme。 During his stay in Nimes he received
Protestants and Catholics with equal cordiality； and they set at his
table side by side。 It happened once； on a Friday； at dinner； that a
Protestant general took fish and a Catholic general helped himself to
fowl。 The duke being amused； drew attention to this anomaly；
whereupon the Catholic general replied； 〃Better more chicken and less
treason。〃 This attack was so direct； that although the Protestant
general felt that as far as he was concerned it had no point； he rose
from table and left the room。 It was the brave General Gilly who was
treated in this cruel manner。
Meanwhile the news became more disastrous every day： Napoleon was
moving about with the rapidity of his eagles。 On the 24th March it
was reported in Nimes that Louis XVIII had left Paris on the 19th and
that Napoleon had entered on the 20th。 This report was traced to its
source； and it was found that it had been spread abroad by M。 Vincent
de Saint…Laurent； a councillor of the Prefecture and one of the most
respected men in Nimes。 He was summoned at once before the
authorities and asked whence he had this information； he replied；
〃From a letter received from M。 Bragueres；〃 producing the letter。
But convincing as was this proof； it availed him nothing： he was
escorted from brigade to brigade till he reached the Chateau d'If。
The Protestants sided with M。 Vincent de Saint…Laurent； the Catholics
took the part of the authorities who were persecuting him； and thus
the two factions which had been so long quiescent found themselves
once more face to face； and their dormant hatred awoke to new life。
For the moment； however； there was no explosion； although the city
was at fever heat； and everyone felt that a crisis was at hand。
On the 22nd March two battalions of Catholic volunteers had already
been enlisted at Nimes； and had formed part of the eighteen hundred
men who were sent to Saint…Esprit。 Just before their departure
fleurs…de…lys had been distributed amongst them； made of red cloth；
this change in the colour of the monarchical emblem was a threat
which the Protestants well understood。
The prince left Nimes in due course； taking with him the rest of the
royal volunteers； and leaving the Protestants practically masters of
Nimes during the absence of so many Catholics。 The city； however；
continued calm； and when provocations began； strange to say they came
from the weaker party。
On the 27th March six men met in a barn； dined together； and then
agreed to make the circuit of the town。 These men were Jacques
Dupont； who later acquired such terrible celebrity under the name of
Trestaillons； Truphemy the butcher； Morenet the dog shearer； Hours；
Servant； and Gilles。 They got opposite the caf？ 〃Isle of Elba；〃 the
name of which indicated the opinion of those who frequented it。 This
caf？ was faced by a guard…house which was occupied by soldiers of the
67th Regiment。 The six made a halt； and in the most insulting tones
raised the cry of 〃Long live the king！〃 The disturbance that ensued
was so slight that we only mention it in order to give an idea of the
tolerance of the Protestants； and to bring upon the stage the men
mentioned above； who were three months later to play such a terrible
part。
On April 1st the mayor summoned to a meeting at his official
residence the municipal council； the members of all the variously
constituted administrative bodies in Nimes； the officers of the city
guards； the priests； the Protestant pastors； and the chief citizens。
At this meeting； M。 Trinquelague； advocate of the Royal Courts； read
a powerful address； expressing the love； of the citizens for their
king and country； and exhorting them to union and peace。 This
address was unanimously adopted and signed by all present； and
amo