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has been disturbed by these fools。〃
The day after writing this letter to the king； Roland sent Maille to
M。 de Villars to beg him to wait till Saturday and Sunday the 7th and
the 8th June were over； before resorting to severity； that being the
end of the truce。 He gave him a solemn promise that he would； in the
interval； either bring in his troops to the last man； or would
himself surrender along with a hundred and fifty followers。 The
marechal consented to wait till Saturday morning； but as soon as
Saturday arrived he gave orders to attack the Camisards； and the next
day led a considerable body of troops to Carnoulet； intending to take
the Huguenots by surprise； as word had been brought that they were
all gathered there。 They； however； received intelligence of his
plan； and evacuated the village during the night。
The village had to pay dearly for its sin of hospitality； it was
pillaged and burnt down： the miquelets even murdered two women whom
they found there； and d'Aygaliers failed to obtain any satisfaction
for this crime。 In this manner M； de Villars kept the fatal promise
he had given； and internecine war raged once more。
Furious at having missed the Camisards； de Menon having heard from
his scouts that Roland was to sleep next night at the chateau de
Prade； went to M。 de Villars and asked leave to conduct an expedition
against the chief。 He was almost sure of taking Roland by surprise；
having procured a guide whose knowledge of the country was minute。
The marechal gave him carte blanche。 In the evening Menon set out
with two hundred grenadiers。 He had already put three…quarters of
the way behind him without being discovered； when an Englishman met
them by chance。 This man was serving under Roland； but had been
visiting his sweetheart in a neighbouring village； and was on his way
home when he fell among Menon's grenadiers。 Without a thought for
his own safety； he fired off his gun； shouting； 〃Fly！ fly！ The
royals are upon you！〃
The sentinels took up the cry； Roland jumped out of bed； and； without
staying for clothes or horse； ran off in his shirt； escaping by a
postern gate which opened on the forest just as de Menon entered by
another。 He found Roland's bed still warm； and took possession of
his clothes； finding in a coat pocket a purse containing thirty…five
Louis； and in the stables three superb horses。 The Camisards
answered this beginning of hostilities by a murder。 Four of them；
thinking they had reasons for displeasure against one of M。 de
Baville's subordinates； named Daude； who was both mayor and
magistrate； at Le Vigan； hid in a corn…field which he had to pass on
his way back from La Valette； his country place。 Their measures
were successful： Daude came along just as was expected； and as he had
not the slightest suspicion of the impending danger； he continued
conversing with M； de Mondardier； a gentleman of the neighbourhood
who had asked for the； hand of Daude's daughter in marriage that very
day。 Suddenly he found himself surrounded by four men； who；
upbraiding him for his exactions and cruelties； shot him twice
through the head with a pistol。 They offered no violence to M。 de
Mondardier except to deprive him of his laced hat and sword。 The day
on which M。 de Villars heard of its murder he set a price on the
heads of Roland； Ravanel； and Catinat。 Still the example set by
Cavalier； joined to the resumption of hostilities； was not without
influence on the Camisards； every day letters arrived from single
troopers offering to lay down their arms； and in one day thirty
rebels came in and put themselves into Lalande's hands； while twenty
surrendered to Grandval； these were accorded not only pardon； but
received a reward； in hopes that they might be able to induce others
to do like them； and on the 15th June eight of the troops which had
abandoned Cavalier at Calvisson made submission； while twelve others
asked to be allowed to return to their old chief to follow him
wherever he went。 This request was at once granted： they were sent
to Valabregues； where they found forty…two of their old comrades；
amongst whom were Duplan and Cavalier's young brother； who had been
ordered there a few days before。 As they arrived they were given
quarters in the barracks； and received good paythe chiefs forty
sous a day； and the privates ten。 So they felt as happy as possible；
being well fed and well lodged； and spent their time preaching；
praying； and psalm…singing； in season and out of season。 All this；
says La Baume； was so disagreeable to the inhabitants of the place；
who were Catholics； that if they had not been guarded by the king's
soldiers they would have been pitched into the Rhone。
CHAPTER V
Meantime the date of Cavalier's departure drew near。 A town was to
be named in which he was to reside at a sufficient distance from the
theatre of war to prevent the rebels from depending on him any more；
in this town he was to organise his regiment； and as soon as it was
complete it was to go； under his command； to Spain； and fight for the
king。 M。 de Villars was still on the same friendly terms with him；
treating him； not like a rebel； but according to his new rank in the
French army。 On the 21st June he told him that he was to get ready
to leave the next day； and at the same time he handed him an advance
on their future payfifty Louis for himself； thirty for Daniel
Billard； who had been made lieutenant…colonel in the place of
Ravanel； ten for each captain； five for each lieutenant； two for each
sergeant； and one for each private。 The number of his followers had
then reached one hundred and fifty； only sixty of whom were armed。
M。 de Vassiniac； major in the Fimarcn regiment； accompanied them with
fifty dragoons and fifty of the rank and file from Hainault。
All along the road Cavalier and his men met with a courteous
reception； at Macon they found orders awaiting them to halt。
Cavalier at once wrote to M。 de Chamillard to tell him that he had
things of importance to communicate to him； and the minister sent a
courier of the Cabinet called Lavallee to bring Cavalier to
Versailles。 This message more than fulfilled all Cavalier's hopes：
he knew that he had been greatly talked about at court； and in spite
of his natural modesty the reception he had met with at Times had
given him new ideas； if not of his own merit； at least of his own
importance。 Besides； he felt that his services to the king deserved
some recognition。
The way in which Cavalier was received by Chamillard did not disturb
these golden dreams： the minister welcomed the young colonel like a
man whose worth he appreciated； and told him that the great lords and
ladies of the court were not less favourably disposed towards him。
The next day Chamillard announced to Cavalier that the king desired
to see him； and that he was to keep himself prepared for a summons to
court。 Two days later； Cavalier received a letter from the minister
telling him to be at the palace at four o'clock in the afternoon； and
he would place him on the grand staircase； up which the king would
pass。
Cavalier put on his handsomest clothes； for the first