among the clerk's registers, to avoid being inscribed on the next batch
of cases in the revolutionary Tribunal. There is not one of these favors
that is not precious; consequently, ransoms without number are tendered,
while the rascals[33114] who swarm on the revolutionary committees, need
but open their hands to fill their pockets. They run very little risk,
for they are held in check only by their own kind, or are not checked at
all. In any large town, two of them suffice for the issue of a warrant
of arrest save a reference to the Committee within twenty-four hours,
with the certainty that their colleagues will kindly return the
favor.[33115] Moreover, the clever ones know how to protect themselves
beforehand. For example, at Bordeaux, where one of these clandestine
markets had been set up, M. Jean Davilliers, one of the partners in a
large commercial house, is under arrest in his own house, guarded by
four sans-culottes; on the 8th of Brumaire, he is taken aside and
told "that he is in danger if he does not come forward and meet
the indispensable requirements of the Revolution in its secret
expenditures." An important figure, Lemoal, member of the revolutionary
committee and administrator of the district, had spoken of these
requirements and thought that M. Davilliers should contribute the sum of
one hundred and fifty thousand livres. Upon this, a knock at the door
is heard; Lemoal enters and all present slip out of the room, and Lemoal
pronounces these words only: "Do you consent?"--"But I cannot thus
dispose of my partners' property."--"Then you will go to prison." At
this threat the poor man yields and gives his note to Lemoal at twenty
days, payable to bearer, for one hundred and fifty thousand livres, and,
at the end of a fortnight, by dint of pushing his claims, obtains his
freedom. Thereupon, Lemoal thinks the matter over, and deems it prudent
to cover up his private extortion by a public one. Accordingly, he sends
for M. Davilliers: "It is now essential for you to openly contribute
one hundred and fifty thousand livres more for the necessities of the
Republic. I will introduce you to the representatives to whom you should
make the offer." The chicken being officially plucked in this way,
nobody would suppose that it had been first privately plucked, and,
moreover, the inquisitive, if there were any, would be thrown off
the scent by the confusion arising from two sums of equal amount. M.
Davilliers begs to be