ight 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