guised himself, and, getting into a
waggon, set off to seek safety in the country. He was, however,
recognised and brought a prisoner to the place du Chapitre, where, after
being buffeted about and insulted for an hour by the populace, he was at
last murdered.
"It may easily be imagined that although no one came to disturb us we did
not sleep much that night. The ladies rested on sofas or in arm-chairs
without undressing, while our host, M______ and myself took turns in
guarding the door, gun in hand.
"As soon as it was light we consulted what course we should take: I was
of the opinion that we ought to try to reach Aix by unfrequented paths;
having friends there, we should be able to procure a carriage and get to
Nimes, where my family lived. But my wife did not agree with me. 'I
must go back to town for our things,' said she; 'we have no clothes but
those on our backs. Let us send to the village to ask if Marseilles is
quieter to-day than yesterday.' So we sent off a messenger.
"The news he brought back was favourable; order was completely restored.
I could not quite believe this, and still refused to let my wife return
to the town unless I accompanied her. But in that everyone was against
me: my presence would give rise to dangers which without me had no
existence. Where were the miscreants cowardly enough to murder a woman
of eighteen who belonged to no-party and had never injured anyone? As
for me, my opinions were well known. Moreover, my mother-in-law offered
to accompany her daughter, and both joined in persuading me that there
was no danger. At last I was forced to consent, but only on one
condition.
"'I cannot say,' I observed, 'whether there is any foundation for the
reassuring tidings we have heard, but of one thing you may be sure: it is
now seven o'clock in the morning, you can get to Marseilles in an hour,
pack your trunks in another hour, and return in a third; let us allow one
hour more for unforeseen delays. If you are not back by eleven o'clock, I
shall believe something has happened, and take steps accordingly.' 'Very
well,' said my wife; 'if I am not back by then, you may think me dead,
and do whatever you think best.' And so she and her mother left me.
"An hour later, quite different news came to hand. Fugitives, seeking
like ourselves safety in the country, told us that the rioting, far from
ceasing, had increased; the streets were encumbered with corpses, and two
people had
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