Girondists; I declared myself one of that
party, and hoped that I should be asked no more questions. But before
two or three months had passed away, another party came to ascertain
whether I was a real Jacobin, which I solemnly pronounced myself to
be;--a second time, to know whether I thought proper to be called
citizen, or have my head cut off; I declared in favour of the former,
and made them a present of my title of marquis. But at last they
surrounded my house with loud cries, declaring that I was an aristocrat,
and insisted upon carrying my head away upon a pike. This I considered a
subject of remonstrance. I assured them that I was no aristocrat,
although I had purchased the property, and that, on the contrary, I was
a citizen barber from Marseilles; that I had relinquished the title of
marquis, which I had bought with the property, and had therefore no
claim whatever to aristocracy. But they insisted upon proofs, and
ordering my valets to bring down the materials, desired me to shave a
dozen of their party. I shaved for my life, and acquitted myself so much
to their satisfaction that they all embraced me, and were about to
depart, when one of the women demanded that my wife (whose
aristocratical descent was known) should be surrendered up, as a proof
of my sincerity. We all have our moments of weakness; had I had the
prudence to comply with the request, things would have ended happily,
but I was foolish enough, although I had been married twelve years, to
demur at the prospect of the head of my charming Cerise being carried
away on a pike. I represented to them (as she clung to me for
protection), that although of noble descent, she had reduced herself to
my level by marrying a citizen barber. After a short consultation, they
agreed that she was sufficiently degraded to live. They contented
themselves with breaking open my cellar, that they might drink my
health, and departed. But, your highness, I had soon cause to repent of
my folly. Cerise was a charming woman, and an affectionate wife in
adversity, but prosperity was her ruin, as well as mine. She had already
had an affair with a Comte, who had lately been dismissed for a handsome
young abbe; but we do not mind these little _egaremens_ in our country,
and I neither had leisure nor inclination to interfere with her
arrangements. Satisfied with her sincere friendship for me, I could
easily forgive a few trifling infidelities, and nothing had disturbed
the seren