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enter the Caf？ Mercantier； but the door was shut in his face。 Being
broken by fatigue； breathless； and covered with dust and sweat； he
threw himself on one of the benches placed against the wall； outside
the house。 Here he was wounded by a musket bullet； but not killed。
At the sight of his blood shrieks of joy were heard； and then a young
man with a pistol in each hand forced his way through the throng and
killed the old man by two shots fired point blank in his face。
〃Another still more atrocious murder took place in the course of the
same morning。 A father and son； bound back to back； were delivered
over to the tender mercies of the mob。 Stoned and beaten and covered
with each other's blood； for two long hours their death…agony
endured； and all the while those who could not get near enough to
strike were dancing round them。
〃Our time passed listening to such stories； suddenly I saw a friend
running towards the house。 I went to meet him。 He was so pale that
I hardly dared to question him。 He came from the city； and had been
at my house to see what had become of me。 There was no one in it；
but across the door lay two corpses wrapped in a blood…stained sheet
which he had not dared to lift。
〃At these terrible words nothing could hold me back。 I set off for
Marseilles。 M_____ who would not consent to let me return alone；
accompanied me。 In passing through the village of Saint…Just we
encountered a crowd of armed peasants in the main street who appeared
to belong to the free companies。 Although this circumstance was
rather alarming； it would have been dangerous to turn back； so we
continued our way as if we were not in the least uneasy。 They
examined our bearing and our dress narrowly； and then exchanged some
sentences in a low； voice； of which we only caught the word
austaniers。 This was the name by which the Bonapartists were called
by the peasants； and means 'eaters of chestnuts；' this article of
food being brought from Corsica to France。 However； we were not
molested in any way； for as we were going towards the city they did
not think we could be fugitives。 A hundred yards beyond the village
we came up with a crowd of peasants； who were； like us； on the way to
Marseilles。 It was plain to see that they had just been pillaging
some country house； for they were laden with rich stuffs； chandeliers
and jewels。 It proved to be that of M。 R____； inspector of reviews。
Several carried muskets。 I pointed out to my companion a stain of
blood on the trousers of one of the men； who began to laugh when he
saw what we were looking at。 Two hundred yards outside the city I
met a woman who had formerly been a servant in my house。 She was
very much astonished to see me； and said； 'Go away at once； the
massacre is horrible； much worse than yesterday。'
〃'But my wife；' I cried； 'do you know anything about her？'
〃'No； sir；' she replied； 'I was going to knock at the door； but some
people asked me in a threatening manner if I could tell them where
the friend of that rascal Brine was； as they were going to take away
his appetite for bread。 So take my advice；' she continued； 'and go
back to where you came from。'
〃This advice was the last I could make up my mind to follow； so we
went on； but found a strong guard at the gate； and saw that it would
be impossible to get through without being recognised。 At the same
time； the cries and the reports of firearms from within were coming
nearer； it would therefore have been to court certain death to
advance； so we retraced our steps。 In passing again through the
village of Saint…Just we met once more our armed peasants。 But this
time they burst out into threats on seeing us； shouting； 'Let us kill
them！ Let us kill them！' Instead of running away； we approached
them； assuring them that we were Royalists。 Our coolness was so
convincing that we got through safe and sound。
〃On getting back to the captain's I threw myself on the sofa； quite
overcome by the thought that only that morning my wife had been
beside me under my protection； and that I had let her go back to the
town to a cruel and inevitable death。 I felt as if my heart would
break； and nothing that our host and my friend could say gave me the
slightest comfort。 I was like a madman； unconscious of everything
round me。
〃M_____ went out to try to pick up some news； but in an instant we
heard him running back； and he dashed into the room； calling out
〃'They are coming！ There they are！'
〃'Who are coming？' we asked。
〃'The assassins！'
〃My first feeling； I confess； was one of joy。 I pounced upon a pair
of double…barrelled pistols； resolved not to let myself be
slaughtered like a sheep。 Through the window I could see some men
climbing over the wall and getting down into the garden。 We had just
sufficient time to escape by a back staircase which led to a door；
through which we passed； shutting it behind us。 We found ourselves
on a road； at the other side of which was a vineyard。 We crossed the
road and crept under the vines； which completely concealed us。
〃As we learned later； the captain's house had been denounced as a
Bonapartist nest； and the assassins had hoped to take it by surprise；
and； indeed； if they had come a little sooner we had been lost； for
before we had been five minutes in our hiding…place the murderers
rushed out on the road； looking for us in every direction； without
the slightest suspicion that we were not six yards distant。 Though
they did not see us I could see them； and I held my pistols ready
cocked； quite determined to kill the first who came near。 However；
in a short time they went away。
〃 As soon as they were out of hearing we began to consider our
situation and weigh our chances。 There was no use in going back to
the captain's； for he was no longer there； having also succeeded in
getting away。 If we were to wander about the country we should be
recognised as fugitives； and the fate that awaited us as such was at
that moment brought home to us； for a few yards away we suddenly
heard the shrieks of a man who was being murdered。 They were the
first cries of agony I had ever heard； and for a few moments； I
confess； I was frozen with terror。 But soon a violent reaction took
place within me； and I felt that it would be better to march straight
to meet peril than to await its coming； and although I knew the
danger of trying to go through Saint…Just again； I resolved to risk
it； and to get to Marseilles at all costs。 So； turning to M____； I
said：
〃'You can remain here without danger until the evening； but I am
going to Marseilles at once； for I cannot endure this uncertainty any
longer。 If I find Saint…Just clear； I shall come back and rejoin
you； but if not I shall get away as best I can alone。'
〃Knowing the danger that we were running； and how little chance there
was that we should ever see each other again； he held out his hand to
me； but I threw myself into his arms and gave him a last embrace。
〃I started at once： when I reached Saint…Just I found the freebooters
still there； so I walked up to them； trolling a melody； but one of
them seized me by the collar an