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has only to flick through two or three reports to see how patriotism
furnishes a cloak for brutal license and greed。 At Coucy； in the
department of Aisne；＇71＇ the peasantry of seventeen parishes；
assembled for the purpose of furnishing their military quota； rush
with a loud clamor to two houses； the property of M。 des Fossés； a
former deputy to the Constituent Assembly； and the two finest in the
town； one of them had been occupied by Henry IV。 Some of the
municipal officers who try to interfere are nearly cut to pieces； and
the entire municipal body takes to flight。 M。 des Fossés； with his
two daughters； succeed in hiding themselves in an obscure corner in
the vicinity； and afterwards in a small tenement offered to them by a
humane gardener； and finally； after great difficulty； they reach
Soissons。 Of his two houses； 〃nothing remains but the walls。 Windows；
casings； doors； and wainscoting； all are shattered〃； twenty thousand
francs of assignats in a portfolio are destroyed or carried off； the
title…deeds of the property are not to be found； and the damage is
estimated at 200；000 francs。 The pillage lasted from seven o'clock in
the morning to seven o'clock in the evening； and； as is always the
case； ended in a fête。 The plunderers； entering the cellars； drank
〃two hogsheads of wine and two casks of brandy； thirty or forty
remained dead drunk； and were taken away with considerable
difficulty。〃 There is no prosecution； no investigation； the new mayor；
who； one month after； makes up his mind to denounce the act； begs the
Minister not to give his name； for； he says； 〃the agitators in the
council…general of the Commune threaten； with fearful consequences；
whoever is discovered to have written to you。〃＇72＇ Such is the
ever…present menace under which the gentry live； even when veterans in
the service of freedom； Roland； foremost in his files； finds
heartrending letters addressed directly to him； as a last recourse。
Early in 1789； M。 de Gouy d'Arcy＇73＇ was the first to put his pen to
paper in behalf of popular rights。 A deputy of the noblesse to the
Constituent Assembly； he is the first to rally to the Third…Estate；
when the liberal minority of the noblesse came and took their seats in
the hall of the Communes； he had already been there eight days； and；
for thirty months； he 〃invariably seated himself on the side of the
'Left。'〃 Senior major…general； and ordered by the Legislative
Assembly to suppress the outbreak of the 6；000 insurgents at Noyon；
〃he kept his rigorous orders in his pocket for ten days〃； he endured
their insults； he risked his life 〃to save those of his misguided
fellow…citizens； and he had the good fortune not to spill a drop of
blood。〃 Exhausted by so much labor and effort； almost dying； ordered
into the country by his physicians； 〃he devoted his income to the
relief of poverty〃； he planted on his own domain the first liberty
tree that was erected； he furnished the volunteers with clothes and
arms； 〃instead of a fifth； he yielded up a third of his revenue under
the forced system of taxation。〃 His children live with him on the
property； which has been in the family four hundred years； and the
peasantry call him 〃their father。〃 No one could lead a more tranquil
or； indeed； a more meritorious existence。 But； being a noble； he is
suspected； and a delegate from the Paris Commune denounces him at
Compiègne as having in his house two cannon and five hundred and fifty
muskets。 There is at once a domiciliary visit。 Eight hundred men；
infantry and cavalry； appear before the chateau d'Arcy in battle
array。 He meets them at the door and tenders them the keys。 After a
search of six hours； they find twelve fowling pieces and thirteen
rusty pistols； which he has already declared。 His disappointed
visitors grumble； break； eat and drink to the extent of 2；000 crowns
damage。＇74＇ Nevertheless； urged by their leaders they finally retire。
But M。 de Gouy has 60；000 francs in rentals which would be so much
gain to the nation if he would emigrate； this must be effected； by
expelling him； and； moreover during his expulsion； they may fill their
pockets。 For eight days this matter is discussed in the Compiègne
club； in the bars； in the barracks； and； on the ninth day； 150
volunteers issue from the town； declaring that they are going to kill
M。 de Gouy and all who belong to him。 Informed of this； he departs
with his family； leaving the doors of his house wide open。 There is a
general pillage for five hours； the mob drink the costly wines； steal
the plate； demand horses to carry their booty away； and promise to
return soon and take the owner's head。 In effect； on the following
morning at four o'clock； there is a new invasion； a new pillage； and；
this time； the last one； the servants escape under a fire of musketry；
and M。 de Gouy； at the request of the villagers； whose vineyards are
devastated； is obliged to quit that part of the country。＇75＇ There
is no need to go through the whole file。 At Houdainville； at the house
of M。 de Saint…Maurice； at Nointel； on the estate of the Duc de
Bourbon； at Chantilly； on the estate of the Prince de Condé； at the
house of M。 de Fitz…James； and elsewhere； a certain Gauthier；
〃commandant of the Paris detachment of Searchers； and charged with the
powers of the Committee of Supervision；〃 makes his patriotic circuit；
and Roland knows beforehand of what that consists； namely； a
dragonnade＇76＇ in regular form on the domains of all nobles； absent or
present。＇77＇
Favorite game is still found in the clergy； more vigorously hunted
than the nobles； Roland； charged with the duty of maintaining public
order； asks himself how the lives of inoffensive priests； which the
law recommends to him； can be protected。 At Troyes； at the house of
M。 Fardeau； an old non…conformist curé； an altar decked with its
sacred vessels is discovered； and M。 Fardeau； arrested； refuses to
take the civic oath。 Torn from his prison； and ordered to shout 〃Vive
la Nation！〃 he again refuses。 On this； a volunteer； borrowing an ax
from a baker； chops off his head； and this head； washed in the river；
is borne to the H？tel…de…ville。＇78＇ At Meaux； a brigade of Parisian
gendarmerie murders seven priests； and； as an extra； six ordinary
malefactors in confinement。＇79＇ At Rheims； the Parisian volunteers
first make way with the post…master and his clerk； both under
suspicion because the smell of burnt paper had issued from their
chimney； and； next； M。 de Montrosier； an old retired officer； which is
the opening of the hunt。 Afterwards they fall upon two ecclesiastics
with pikes and sabers； whom their game…beaters have brought in from
the country； then on the former curé of Saint…Jean； and on that of
Rilly； their corpses are cut up； paraded through the streets in
portions； and burnt in a bonfire； one of the wounded priests； the abbé
Alexandre； is thrown in still alive。＇80＇ Roland recognizes the men
of September； who； exposing their