The Companions of Jehu

ise, drawn by three post horses, galloped at full speed over the bridge that crosses the Durance, between Cavailhon and Chateau-Renard, on its way to Avignon, the ancient papal city which a

nding streets, built to ward off both wind and sun, and halted at fifty paces from the Porte d'Oulle, at the Hotel du Palais-Egalit

he post-chaise which we had in view, indicate sufficiently well the state of F

he 10th of August, of the 2d and 3d of September, of the 21st of May, of the 29th Thermidor and the 1st Prairial; after seeing fall the heads of the King and his judges, and the Queen

a stable government, in which she might place her confidence, upon which she might

nt of the voluptuous Barrès, the intriguing Sièyes, the brave Moulins, the insignificant Roger Ducos, and the honest but somewha

ath of Joubert at Novi, were beginning to resume the offensive. Moreau had defeated Souvarow at Bassignano; Brune had defeated the Duke of York and General Hermann at Bergen; Masséna had annihilated the Austro-Russians at Zurich;

was, it must be confessed, much embarrassed between the war in the Vendée and the brigandages of th

hich the always excitable papal town might be at that time; for just before reaching Orgon, at a spot where three crossroads stretched out before

go by way of Avig

of the two travellers in a harsh, strident voice. Thoug

on, citizen, by a good

replied, "go by

izen travellers, as the postilion called them, although the title of Monsieur

f the two travellers who spoke. He asked if they could dine at once, and the way this demand was made indicated th

ed, napkin in hand, to greet the travellers, "you will be promptly and comfor

younger of the travellers,

ike the traveller for whom this coach, already harnesse

f Cahors wine he was emptying near the window-ledge. The first movement of him to whom this proposal was made was negative; nevertheless, after a second's reflection, the elder of the

te." Then, turning to the postilion, who, hat in hand, awaited his ord

both entered the dining-room, the elder of t

e d'h?te by new-comers. All eyes were bent upon them and t

essed at the door, a wine merchant from Bordeaux, sojourning temporarily at Avignon for reasons we

inction, although their garments were simple in the extreme. Both wore hightop boots and breeches, long-tailed coats, travelling overcoats and broad-brimmed hats, the usual costume of the young men of that day. But that which distinguished them from the fashionables of Paris, and even of the provinces, was their long straight hair, and their black stoc

wo young men, they presented t

s temples to his shoulders. He had the swarthy skin of a man who has travelled long in southern climes, thin lips, a straight nose, white teeth, and those hawk-like eyes which Dante gives to C?sar. He was short rather than tall, his hand was delicate, his foot slender and elegant.

ompanion, and though his figure was somewhat above medium height, he was so well proportioned, so admirably free in his movements, that he was evidently if not extraordinarily strong, at least uncommonly agile and dexterous. Although attired in the same manner and ap

pon the new-comers, they turned their eyes away, and the conversation, interrupted for an instant, was resumed. It must be confessed that it concerned a matter most interesting to the travellers-that of t

rchant of Bordeaux, had been one of the principal actors in the scene on the highroad. Those who seemed the most curious to hear the details were the travellers in the diligence which had just a

ery thin and haggard, was crowding in her terror. "You say that th

you notice the spot where the road ascends between

rm, "I noticed it; I even said, as you must remember, 'Here is

ion of the day, and who probably assumed to lead the conversation at the table d'h

y still more alarmed, "were yo

itizeness, at ten o'c

e there?" asked t

, cit

beside t

rseback, armed to th

d'h?te, "and they said, did they not: 'Do not defend yoursel

r word,

nted from their horses, flinging their bridles to their com

astonished, "you describe th

" said one of the travellers,

o not consider your suspicion an insult. Had I had the misfortune to be among those attacked, or the honor to be one of those who made the attack, I should admit it as frankly in the one case as in the other. But yesterday

had lately joined the table, whom his companion cal

es, that's it-we were se

luding the conducto

es

ves to be plundered by four brigan

eplied the wine merchant, "and we too

retorted the young man. "Why, it se

They gave t

ve their

nd yourselves; ladies, do not be alarmed, we

h?te, "they warned you that there might b

d who is this Jehu who has such pol

ate into the mysteries of the honorable company whose merits were then under discussion, "if you were better versed than you seem to be in the Holy Scriptures, you

hich you speak, you seem a man of learning, permit a poor ignoramus to ask you a few details about this Jeh

Israel anointed by Elisha, on condition that he punish the crimes o

u for the explanation. I don't doubt it is correct, and, above

hat he punish the crimes of the Revolution and put to death all the priests of Baal; that is to say, all those who had ta

e appointed to fight, do you reckon the brave soldiers who have repulsed the enemy along the frontiers of Franc

t, those foremost

his comrade touched his coat and forced him to sit down again, while with a single glance he silenced him. Then

America, or India as it were. Absent from France these last two years; we are complet

om these words were addressed, "that is but fai

the granite complexion, "now that I know who Jehu is, and to what end his company wa

You know there is much talk of the

tone which he vainly strove to render artless; "I am but

? Well, six months hence it

all

nor to tell yo

d a smile, though the young blond one was apparently

piracy, if one can call conspiracy a plot which was organized ope

with a politeness not wholly exempt from sati

overnment has its s

ff perhaps-bu

mies, I

e are

r in the Jura Mountains, under M. Teyssonnet; and, finally, a third is operating most successfu

their exile. I supposed the police so organized as to suppress both provisional royalist committees in the lar

this reply was address

you come from

izen, from the e

armies and maintain a third without money. The royalists faced an embarrassing problem; the republic alone could pay for its enemies' troops and, it being improbable

derstand

very for

between the Republic and the Counter-Revolutio

feat of arms like any other. So there you are, citizen, an

eaux, "if the Companions of Jehu-observe that I s

ther. Individual plunder on

, in addition to the government money, th

already told you that there is some mistake. As surely as my name

e given by the young noble, who had just revealed his social position by telling his name, had stirred the delicacy of those whom he thus guaranteed, a ho

rition, "is there a traveller here named Jean Picot, who was in the

the wine mer

?" asked th

a

ing taken

ouis, which I had intru

at the gentleman was speaking of it at thi

t individuals. We are partisans and not robbers. Here are your two hundred Louis, sir, and if

he wine merchant, bowed courteously to the other guests, and went