第379章

The nobles obliged to leave the rural districts. - They take refuge in towns. - The dangers they incur. - The eighty-two gentlemen of CaenAmidst these multiplied and reviving Jacqueries there is nothing left but flight， and the nobles， driven out of the rural districts， seek refuge in the towns. But here also a jacquerie awaits them. As the effects of the Constitution are developed， successive administrations become feebler and more partial； the unbridled populace has become more excitable and more violent； the enthroned club has become more suspicious and more despotic. Henceforth the club， through or in opposition to the administrative bodies， leads the populace， and the nobles will find it as hostile as the peasants. All their reunions， even when liberal， are closed like that in Paris， through the illegal interference of mobs， or through the iniquitous action of the popular magistrates. All their associations， even when legal and salutary， are broken up by brute force or by municipal intolerance， They are punished for having thought of defending themselves， and slaughtered because they try to avoid assassination. - Three or four hundred gentlemen， who were threatened on their estates， sought refuge with their families in Caen；[18] and they trusted to find one there， for， by three different resolutions， the municipal body promised them aid and protection. Unfortunately， the club thinks otherwise， and， on August 23， 1791， prints and posts up a list of their names and residences， declaring that since "their suspected opinions have compelled them to abandon the rural districts，" they are emigrants in the interior；" from which it follows that "their conduct must be scrupulously watched，" because "it may be the effect of some dangerous plot against the country." Fifteen are especially designated； among others "the former curé of Saint-Loup， the great bloodhound of the aristocrats， and all of them very suspicious persons， harboring the worst intentions." - Thus denounced and singled out， it is evident that they can no longer sleep peacefully：

moreover， now that their addresses are published， they are openly threatened with domiciliary visits and violence. As to the administrative authorities， their intervention cannot be expected on； the department itself gives notice to the minister that， as the law stands， it cannot put the chateau in the hands of the regulars，[19] as this would， it is said， excite the National Guard.

Besides， how without an army is this post to be wrested from the hands which hold it？ It is impossible with only the resources which the Constitution affords us." Thus， in the defense of the oppressed， the Constitution is a dead letter. - Hence it is that the refugees， finding protection only in themselves， undertake to help each other. No association can be more justifiable， more pacific， more innocent. Its object is "to demand the execution of the laws constantly violated， and to protect persons and property." In each quarter they will try to bring together "all good citizens；" they will form a committee of eight members， and， in each committee， there will always be "an officer of justice or a member of the administrative body with an officer or subaltern of the National Guard." Should any citizen be attacked in person or property the association will draw up a petition in his favor. Should any particular act of violence require the employment of public force， the members of the district will assemble under the orders of the officer of justice and of the National Guard to enforce obedience.

"In all possible cases" they "will avoid with the greatest care any insult of individuals； they will consider that the object of the meeting is solely to ensure public peace， and that protection from the law to which every citizen is entitled." - In short， they are volunteer constables. Turn the inquiry which way they will， a hostile municipality and a prejudiced tribunal can put no other construction upon it； they find nothing else. The only evidence against one of the leaders is a letter in which he tries to prevent a gentleman from going to Coblentz， striving to prove to him that he will be more useful at Caen. The principal evidence against the association is that of a townsman whom they wished to enroll， and of whom they demanded his opinions. He had stated that he was in favor of the execution of the laws； upon which they told him： "In this case you belong to us， and are more of an aristocrat than you think you are. Their aristocracy， in effect， consists wholly in the suppression of brigandage. No claim is more unpalatable， because it interposes an obstacle to the arbitrary acts of a party which thinks it has a right to do as it pleases. On the 4th of October the regiment of Aunis left the town， and all good citizens were handed over to the militia， "in uniform or not，" they alone being armed.

That day， for the first time in a long period， M. Bunel， the former curé of Saint-Jean， with the consent and assistance of his sworn successor， officiates at the mass. There is a large gathering of the orthodox， which causes uneasiness among the patriots. The following day M. Bunel is to say mass again； whereupon， through the municipal authorities， the patriots forbid him to officiate， to which he submits. Nevertheless， for lack of due notice， a crowd of the faithful have arrived and the church is filled. A dangerous mob！ The patriots and National Guards arrive "to preserve order，"which has not been disturbed， and which they alone disturb.

Threatening words are exchanged between the servants of the nobles and the National Guard. The latter draw their swords， and a young man is hewn down and trampled on； M. de Saffrey， who comes to his assistance unarmed， is himself cut down and pierced with bayonets， and two others are wounded. - Meanwhile， in a neighboring street， M. Achard de Vagogne， seeing a man maltreated by armed men， approaches， in order to make peace. The man is shot down and M.