best and most
faithful. Unheard of and wilful barbarities were spoken of, said to
have been practised by our party. I enquired who were the leaders, but
they could not name them to me. Our most devoted friends told me,
however, that this was not the right manner, or the way to fight
through our, besides this, perilous cause. I shuddered when forced to
listen to these accounts. Our enemies have hardly acted towards us with
so much cruelty. I could not avoid shedding tears at the barbarous
manner in which the Marchioness of Miramon has been murdered. You all
know that she was a secret friend to our cause, and that we have
enjoyed many succours from her kindness. This lady frequently
travelled, often met with our people who were all acquainted with her,
and who besides never wilfully injured the peaceable and defenceless
inhabitants, but let them pass freely. Now she intended to quit Usez,
in order to visit her husband at St. Ambroise. She was advised to take
with her an escort, or at least armed servants, but confiding in our
friendship, she refused both. She had already nearly reached the place
of destination, when her carriage was surrounded by dark-looking men;
she and her maids were bound, and neither entreaties, nor tears, nor
the costly jewels that she carried with her, nor promise of much gold
could save these hapless beings from the most disgraceful death. I
contradicted all the exasperated people, that no troop of our party
could have done this, but only a few believed me. Fortunately I have
discovered who these wretches are, who also call themselves Camisards
and dishonour our cause; it is a band of highwaymen and incendiaries
who have come from Provence. Advance friend Degran, and relate to the
brethren how you came up with the villains, and how you escaped from
them."

A ragged, half-starved looking man with a long beard came forward, whom
some recognised and others examined with surprise. What a change a
period of a few weeks had effected in him! He began in a feeble voice:
"It may now be about a month ago, that I was sent by brother Cavalier
with three of my comrades against Montpellier to watch the enemy, to
purchase ammunition and to summon the attendance of some young men in
the mountains. In order to avoid observation, we set out in the evening
twilight, and just as a storm overtook us in the wood, we were suddenly
surrounded by a number of black-looking men, and commanded to offer no
resistance, the a