conversation would not have been permitted to go on
so uninterruptedly and familiarly." The Counsellor, astonished at this
prelude to the conference, begged that he would immediately disclose
what had procured him the honour of a visit.

"You are slandered sir," said the Intendant, as he looked at him
fixedly; "I am not so fortunate as to be one of your friends, yet I
assert boldly and safely that they are abominable calumnies which are
brought against you, but which, when all the circumstances are joined
together, might obtain a semblance of veracity with some credulous
people." "Who dares attack my name?" said the Counsellor of Parliament.

"Many, very many," said the Intendant in a forcible tone, "and among
these are men of importance and respectability. I told you several
months ago, that you would repent refusing your son so resolutely and
inexorably permission to organise also a troop of volunteers to fight
against the rebels and to hunt them out of their hiding-places."

"I do not yet repent of it in the least, my Lord Intendant," replied
the Counsellor. "Permit me to differ with you on this subject."

"Had we," continued the Intendant, "obtained the assistance of citizens,
peasants, and principally of the nobles of the land, upon which we
ought to have been permitted to reckon with certainty, our king would
not have been compelled to send an army and a Marshal, who have
produced the war they should have quelled, for it was the peasantry
themselves who annihilated the villains; and like many other worthy
men, you have not offered your assistance, you preferred living in
disunion with your son, who is a spirited young man, and an enthusiast
in the right cause. This might be taken by all for paternal love and
fatherly authority, which certainly are never to be suppressed, but
permit me," continued he in a more rapid tone, as he perceived the
Counsellor's impatience--"this, joined to the opinions to which you
have more than once given utterance in the presence of strangers,
furnished matter for various conversations in the country; and what
took place some days ago, misleads even those who honour you; and this
is what I came here to charge you with."

"I see, with emotion, that I am esteemed, speak out," said the Lord of
Beauvais.

"You have," pursued the Intendant with the utmost coolness, "given
refuge to rebels; you have received fugitive Camisards; these villains
have shouted a vivat to you here in front o