business of theirs, being too high for their intelligence; that it was
his business to decide what course to take and theirs to take it; it had
always been so in the past, and with the help of God and his own,
Cavalier's, goodwill, it should still be so in future; and having so
spoken, he told them to disperse. Ravanel upon this came forward, and in
the name of all the others said they would not go away until they knew
what orders Cavalier was about to give the troops, that they might
consult among themselves whether they should obey them or not. This
insubordination was too much for Cavalier's patience.

"The orders are," he said, "to put on the uniforms that are being made
for you, and to follow me to Portugal."

The effect of such words on men who were expecting nothing less than the
re-enactment of the Edict of Nantes, can be easily imagined; the words
"coward" and "traitor" could be distinguished above the murmurs, as
Cavalier noticed with increasing astonishment. Raising himself in his
stirrups, and glancing round with that look before which they had been
used to tremble, he asked in a voice as calm as if all the demons of
anger were not raging in his heart, "Who called Jean Cavalier traitor and
coward?"

"I," said Ravanel, crossing his arms on his breast.

Cavalier drew a pistol from his holsters, and striking those near him
with the butt end, opened a way towards his lieutenant, who drew his
sword; but at this moment the commissary-general, Vincel, and Captain
Cappon threw themselves between the two and asked the cause of the
quarrel.

"The cause," said Ravanel, "is that the Cadets of the Cross, led by the
'Hermit,' have just knocked out the brains of two of our brethren, who
were coming to join us, and are hindering others front attending our
meetings to worship God: the conditions of the truce having been thus
broken, is it likely they will keep those of the treaty? We refuse to
accept the treaty."

"Sir," said Vincel, "if the 'Hermit' has done what you say, it is against
the orders of the marachal, and the misdoer will be punished; besides,
the large number of strangers at present in Calvisson ought to be
sufficient proof that no attempt has been made to prevent the new
converts from coming to the town, and it seems to me that you have been
too easily led to believe everything that malicious people have told
you."

"I believe what I choose to believe," said Ravanel impatiently; "but what
I know