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第108章

the origins of contemporary france-2-第108章

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had just expelled the Carthusians who; under legal sanction; chose

to remain and live in common; two of the monks; before their

departure; give to M。 de Beaumont; their friend and neighbor; four

dwarf pear…trees and some onions in blossom in their garden。  On the

strength of this; the municipal body decree that



 〃the sieur Louis de Beaumont; formerly count; is guilty of having

audaciously and maliciously damaged national property;〃 condemns him

to pay a fine of three hundred livres; and orders 〃that the four

pear…trees; pulled up in the so…called Carthusian garden; be brought

on the following day; Wednesday; to the door of the said sieur de

Beaumont; and there remain for four consecutive days; guarded; day

and night; by two fusiliers; at the expense of the said sieur de

Beaumont; and upon the said trees shall be placed the following

inscription; to wit: Louis de Beaumont; destroyer of the national

property。  And the judgment herewith rendered shall be printed to

the number of one thousand copies; read; published; and posted at

the expense of the said sieur de Beaumont; and duly addressed

throughout the department of Lot to the districts and municipalities

thereof; as well as to all societies of the Friends of the

Constitution and of Liberty。〃



Every line of this legal invective discloses the malignant envy of

the local recorder; who revenges himself for having formerly bowed

too low。  …  The following year; M。 de Beaumont; having formally and

under notarial sanction bought a church which was sold by the

district; along with the ornaments and objects of worship it

contained; the mayor and municipal officers; followed by a lot of

workmen; come and carry away and destroy everything  …

confessionals; altars; and even the saint's canonised body; which

had been interred for one hundred and fifty years: so that; after

their departure; 〃the edifice resembled a vast barn filled with

ruins and rubbish。〃'23' It must be noted that; at this very time; M。

de Beaumont is military commandant at Perigord。  The treatment he

undergoes shows what is in reserve for ordinary nobles。  I do not

recommend them to attend official sales of property。'24'  …  Will

they even be free in their domestic enjoyments; and on entering a

drawing…room are they sure of quietly passing an evening there?  …

At Paris; even; a number of persons of rank; among them the

ambassadors of Denmark and Venice; are listening to a concert in a

mansion in the Faubourg Saint…Honoré given by a foreign virtuoso;

when a cart enters the court loaded with fifty bundles of hay; the

monthly supply for the horses。  A patriot; who sees the cart driven

in; imagines that the King is concealed underneath the hay; and that

he has come there for the purpose of plotting with the aristocrats

about his flight。  A mob gathers; and the National Guard arrives;

along with a commissioner; while four grenadiers stand guard around

the cart。  The commissioner; in the meantime; inspects the hotel; he

sees music…stands; and the arrangements for a supper; comes back;

has the cart unloaded; and states to the people that he has found

nothing suspicious。  The people do not believe him; and demand a

second inspection。  This is made by twenty…four delegates; the

bundles of hay; moreover; are counted; and several of them are

unbound; but all in vain。  Disappointed and irritated; having

anticipated a spectacle; the crowd insists that all the invited

guests; men and women; should leave the house on foot; and only get

into their carriages at the end of the street。  〃First comes a file

of empty carriages;〃 next; 〃all the guests in their evening attire;

and the ladies in full dress; trembling with fear; with downcast

eyes; between two rows of men; women; and children; who stare them

in the face; and overwhelm them with insults。〃'25'



Suspected of holding secret meetings; and called to account in his

own house; has the noble at least the right to frequent a public

saloon; to eat in a restaurant; and to take the fresh air in a

balcony?  …  The Vicomte de Mirabeau; who has just dined in the

Palais…Royal; stands at the window to take the air; and is

recognized; there is a gathering; and the cry is soon heard; 〃Down

with Mirabeau…Tonneau (barrel…Mirabeau)!〃'26' 〃Gravel is flung at

him from all sides; and occasionally stones。  One of the window…

panes is broken by a stone。  Immediately picking up the stone; he

shows it to the crowd; and; at the same time; quietly places it on

the sill of the window; in token of moderation。〃 There is a loud

outcry; his friends force him to withdraw inside; and Bailly; the

mayor; comes in person to quiet the aggressors。  In this case there

are good reasons for their hatred。  The gentleman whom they stone is

a bon…vivant; large and fat; fond of rich epicurean Suppers; and on

this account the populace imagine him to be a monster; and even

worse; an ogre。  With regard to these nobles; whose greatest

misfortune is to be over…polished and too worldly; the over…excited

imagination revives its old nursery tales。  …  M。 de Montlosier;

living in the Rue Richelieu; finds that he is watched on his way to

the National Assembly。  One woman especially; from thirty to thirty…

two years of age; who sold meat at a stall in the Passage Saint…

Guillaume; 〃regarded him with special attention。  As soon as she saw

him coming she took up a long; broad knife which she sharpened

before him; casting furious looks at him。〃 He asks his housekeeper

what this means。  Two children of that quarter have disappeared;

carried off by gipsies; and the report is current that M。 de

Montlosier; the Marquis de Mirabeau; and other deputies of the

〃right;〃 meet together 〃to hold orgies in which they eat little

children。〃



In this state of public opinion there is no crime which is not

imputed to them; no insult which is not freely bestowed on them。

〃Traitors; tyrants; conspirators; assassins;〃 such is the current

vocabulary of the clubs and newspapers in relation to them。

〃Aristocrat〃 signifies all this; and whoever dares to refute the

calumny is himself an aristocrat。  …  At the Palais…Royal; it is

constantly repeated that M。 de Castries; in his last duel; made use

of a poisoned sword; and an officer of the navy who protests against

this false report is himself accused; tried on the spot; and

condemned 〃to be shut up in the guard…house or thrown into the

fountain。〃'27'  …  The nobles must beware of defending their honor

in the usual way and of meeting an insult with a challenge! At

Castelnau; near Cahors;'28' one of those who; the preceding year;

marched against the incendiaries; M。 de Bellud; Knight of Saint…

Louis; on coming down the public square with his brother; a

guardsman; is greeted with cries of 〃The aristocrat! to the lamp

post !〃 His brother is in a morning coat and slippers; and not

wishing to get into trouble they do not reply。  A squad of the

National Guard; passing by; repeats the cry; but they still remain

silent。  The shout continues; and M。 de Bellud; after some time has

elapsed; begs the captain to order his men to be quiet。  He refuses;

and M。 de Bellud demands satisfaction outside the town。  At these

words the National Guards rush at M。 de Bellud with fixed bayonets。

His brother receives a saber…cut on the neck; while he; defending

himself with his sword; slightly wounds the captain and one of the

men。  The two brothers; alone against the whole body; fight on;

retreating to their house; in which they are blockaded。  Towards

seven o'clock in the evening; two or three hundred National Guards

from Cahors arrive to reinforce the besiegers。  The house is taken;

and the guardsman; escaping across the fields; sprains his ankle and

is captured。  M。 de Bellud; who has found his way into another

house; continues to defend himself there: the house is set on fire

and burnt; together with two others alongside of it。  Taking refuge

in a cellar he still keeps on f

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