第 34 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:51      字数:9322
  Moselle in the next campaign。〃
  The; Duke of Berwick arrived at Montpellier on the 17th March to
  replace Marechal Villars。  His first care was to learn from M。 de
  Baville the exact state of affairs。  M。 de Baville told him that they
  were not at all settled as they appeared to be on the surface。
  In fact; England and Holland; desiring nothing so much as that an
  intestine war should waste France; were making unceasing efforts to
  induce the exiles to return home; promising that this time they would
  really support them by lending arms; ammunition; and men; and it was
  said that some were already on their way back; among the number
  Castanet。
  And indeed the late rebel chief; tired of inaction; had left Geneva
  in the end of February; and arrived safely at Vivarais。  He had held
  a religious meeting in a cave near La Goree; and had drawn to his
  side Valette of Vals and Boyer of Valon。  Just as the three had
  determined to penetrate into the Cevennes; they were denounced by
  some peasants before a Swiss officer named Muller; who was in command
  of a detachment of troops in the village of Riviere。  Muller
  instantly mounted his horse; and guided by the informers made his way
  into the little wood in which the Camisards had taken refuge; and
  fell upon them quite unexpectedly。  Boyer was killed in trying to
  escape; Castanet was taken and brought to the nearest prison; where
  he was joined the next day by Valette; who had also been betrayed by
  some peasants whom he had asked for assistance。
  The first punishment inflicted on Castanet was; that he was compelled
  to carry in his hand the head of Boyer all the way from La Goree to
  Montpellier。  He protested vehemently at first; but in vain: it was
  fastened to his wrist by the hair; whereupon he kissed it on both
  cheeks; and went through the ordeal as if it were a religious act;
  addressing words of prayer to the head as he might have done to a
  relic of a martyr。
  Arrived at Montpellier; Castanet was examined; and at first persisted
  in saying that he had only returned from exile because he had not the
  wherewithal to live abroad。  But when put to the torture he was made
  to endure such agony that; despite his courage and constancy; he
  confessed that he had formed a plan to introduce a band of Huguenot
  soldiers with their officers into the Cevennes by way of Dauphine or
  by water; and while waiting for their arrival he had sent on
  emissaries in advance to rouse the people to revolt; that he himself
  had also shared in this work; that Catinat was at the moment in
  Languedoc or Vivarais engaged in the same task; and provided with a
  considerable sum of money sent him by foreigners for distribution;
  and that several persons of still greater importance would soon cross
  the frontier and join him。
  Castanet was condemned to be broken on the wheel。  As he was about to
  be led to execution; Abbe Tremondy; the cure of Notre…Dame; and Abbe
  Plomet; canon of the cathedral; came to his cell to make a last
  effort to convert him; but he refused to speak。  They therefore went
  on before; and awaited him on the scaffold。  There they appeared to
  inspire Castanet with more horror than the instruments of torture;
  and while he addressed the executioner as 〃brother;〃 he called out to
  the priests; 〃Go away out of my sight; imps from the bottomless pit!
  What are you doing here; you accursed tempters?  I will die in the
  religion in which I was born。  Leave me alone; ye hypocrites; leave
  me alone!〃  But the two abbes were unmoved; and Castanet expired
  cursing; not the executioner but the two priests; whose presence
  during his death…agony disturbed his soul; turning it away from
  things which should have filled it。
  Valette was sentenced to be hanged; and was executed on the same day
  as Castanet。
  In spite of the admissions wrung from Castanet in March; nearly a
  month passed without any sign of fresh intrigues or any attempt at
  rebellion。  But on the 17th of April; about seven o'clock in the
  evening; M。 de Baville received intelligence that several Camisards
  had lately returned from abroad; and were in hiding somewhere; though
  their retreat was not known。  This information was laid before the
  Duke of Berwick; and he and M。 de Baville ordered certain houses to
  be searched; whose owners were in their opinion likely to have given
  refuge to the malcontents。  At midnight all the forces which they
  could collect were divided into twelve detachments; composed of
  archers and soldiers; and at the head of each detachment was placed a
  man that could be depended upon。  Dumayne; the king's lieutenant;
  assigned to each the districts they were to search; and they all set
  out at once from the town hall; at half…past twelve; marching in
  silence; and separating at signs from their leaders; so anxious were
  they to make no noise。  At first all their efforts were of no avail;
  several houses being searched without any result; but at length
  Jausserand; the diocesan provost; having entered one of the houses
  which he and Villa; captain of the town troops; had had assigned to
  them; they found three men sleeping on mattresses laid on the floor。
  The provost roused them by asking them who they were; whence they
  came; and what they were doing at Montpellier; and as they; still
  half asleep; did not reply quite promptly; he ordered them to dress
  and follow him。
  These three men were Flessiere; Gaillard; and Jean…Louis。  Flessiere
  was a deserter from the Fimarcon regiment: he it was who knew most
  about the plot。  Gaillard had formerly served in the Hainault
  regiment; and Jean…Louis; commonly called 〃the Genevois;〃 was a
  deserter from the Courten regiment。
  Flessiere; who was the leader; felt that it would be a great disgrace
  to let themselves be taken without resistance; he therefore pretended
  to obey; but in lifting up his clothes; which lay upon a trunk; he
  managed to secure two pistols; which he cocked。  At the noise made by
  the hammers the provost's suspicions were aroused; and throwing
  himself on Flessiere; he seized him round the waist from behind。
  Flessiere; unable to turn; raised his arm and fired over his
  shoulder。  The shot missed the provost; merely burning a lock of his
  hair; but slightly wounded one of his servants; who was carrying a
  lantern。  He then tried to fire a second shot; but Jausserand;
  seizing him by the wrist with one hand; blew out his brains with the
  other。  While Jausserand and Flessiere were thus struggling; Gaillard
  threw himself on Villa; pinning his arms to his sides。  As he had no
  weapons; he tried to push him to the wall; in order to stun him by
  knocking his head against it; but when the servant; being wounded;
  let the lantern fall; he took advantage of the darkness to make a
  dash for the door; letting go his hold of his antagonist。
  Unfortunately for him; the doors; of which there were two; were
  guarded; and the guards; seeing a half…naked man running away at the
  top of his speed; ran after him; firing several shots。  He received a
  wound which; though not dangerous; impeded his flight; so that he was
  boon overtaken and captured。  They brought him back a prisoner to the
  town hall; where Flessiere's dead body already lay。
  Meanwhile Jean…Louis had had better luck。  While the two struggles as
  related above were going on; he slipped unnoticed to an open window
  and got out into the street。  He ran round the corner of the house;
  and disappeared like a shadow in the darkness before the eyes of the
  guards。  For a long time he wandered from street to street; running
  down one and up another; till chance brought him near
  La Poissonniere。  Here he perceived a beggar propped against a post
  and fast asleep; he awoke him; and proposed that they should exchange
  clothes。  As Jean…Louis' suit was new and the beggar's in rags; the
  latter thought at first it was a joke。  Soon perceiving; however;
  that the offer was made in all seriousness; he agreed to the
  exchange; and the two separated; each delighted with his bargain。
  Jean…Louis approached one of the gates of the town; in order to be
  able to get out as soon as it was opened; and the begger hastened off
  in another direction; in order to get away from the man who had let
  him have so good a bargain; before he had time to regret the exchange
  he had made。
  But the night's adventures were far from being over。  The beggar was
  taken a prisoner; Jean…Louis' coat being recognised; and brought to
  the town hall; where the mistake was discovered。  The Genevois
  meantime got into a dark street; and lost his way。  Seeing three men
  approach; one of whom carried a lantern; he went towards the light;
  in order to find out where he was; and saw; to his surprise; that one
  of the men was the servant whom Flessiere had wounded; and who was
  now going to have his wound dressed。  The Genevois tried to draw back
  into the shade; but it was too late: the servant had recognised him。
  He then tried to fly; but the wounded man soon overtook him; and
  although one of his hands was disabled; he held him fast with the
  other; so that the two men who were with him ran up and easily
  secured him。  He also was brought to the town hall; where he found
  the Duke of Berwick and M。 de Baville; who were awaiting the