Taking the Bastile (64 page)

‘Abbe,’ said he, stepping back, ‘I’m an ambassador of peace, a quiet deputy.’

‘You come to rob my armoury, as your accomplices did that of the Invalides.’

‘Which was most laudable,’ said Pitou.

‘And which will here expose you to the risk of the end of my hammer.’ The abbe continued to advance,

‘Abbe 1 abbe I abbe I ‘ said Pitou.

He was at the street door, face to face with his dangerous enemy, and Pitou had cither to fight or run. To run he had to open the door, to open the door, turn. If he turned, Pitou exposed to danger the part of his body the least protected by the cuirass,

Pitou stood at the door with his hand on the latch, and thought not of the abba’s muskets, but of his hammer.

‘Then you will not give me the muskets?’

‘No I’

‘I ask you again?’

‘No I no 1’

‘Again?’

No 1 no 1*

‘Then keep them !’ and he dashed through the half-open door.

His movement was not quick enough to avoid the hammer, which hissed through the air and fell on the small of the back of Pitou, and great as was the courage of the conqueror of the Bastille, he uttered a cry of pain. Just then many of the neighbours rushed out, and to their surprise saw Pitou running away with his sword and helmet, and the Abbe Fortier at the door brandishing his hammer as the angel of destruction wields his sword of flame.

We have seen how Pitou was disappointed. The fall was immense. Not even Satan had fallen from such an eminence when from heaven he was thrown to hell. Satan fell but remained a king, while the Abbe Fortier’ s victim was only Ange Pitou. How could he appear before the persons who had sent him ? How, after having testified such rash confidence, could he say that he was a boaster and a coward, who, armed with a sword and a helmet, had suffered an old abbe to put him to flight. He set to work

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most diligently to seek some mode of extricating himself. At last, like Archimedes, he shouted, ‘Eureka 1’

The following was his plan :

Lafayette was Commander-in-Chief of the National Guards of France. Haramont was in France. Haramont had a National Guard. Lafayette, then, was Commander of the National Guard of Haramont. He could not, therefore, consent that they should be destitute while the rest of France was armed. To reach Lafayette he had to appeal to Gilbert Gilbert, Billot.

Pitou had then to write to Billot. As Billot could not read, he in the first place wrote Gilbert, thus saving the necessity of at least one letter. Before he did so he went secretly to Haramont, not however without being seen by Teliier and Maniquet. They withdrew in silence, and each with a finger on his lips as a token of silence. The following is a copy of the letter which produced such an effect on Teliier and Maniquet ;

‘DEAR AND HONOURABLE MONSIEUR BILLOT, The revolutionary cause in our part of the country every day gains. The people of Haramont has enrolled itself in the active National Guard. It is, however, unarmed. Arms may be procured. Certain persons have large quantities, the possession of which would prevent the expenditure of public money. If General Lafayette be pleased to order these to be seized and distributed, I will myself assure thirty muskets can be placed in the arsenals of Haramont. It is the only way to oppose the anti-revolutionary action of the aristocrats, who are enemies of the nation. ‘Your fellow-citizen and servant,

‘ANGB PITOU.’

When this was done, he remembered that he had forgotten to speak of the farmer’s wife and family. On the other hand, he was too much of a Brutus to tell Billot about Catherine. He, however, opened his letter and wrote with a sigh, this postscript :

‘PS. Mademoiselle Catherine and all are well, and send their love to Monsieur Billot.’

He sent the letter, and the answer soon came. On the next day, a mounted express reached Haramont and asked for M. Ange Pitou.

MONARCHIST AND REVOLUTIONARY 425

All the members of the militia were on the qui vive.

Pitou approached, and not without trembling received the package which the officer gave him.

It was the reply of Billot written by Gilbert. He advised Pitou to be both moderate and patriotic. He enclosed an order of Lafayette, countersigned by the Minister of War, for the National Guard of Haramont to arm itself.

The order was thus written :

‘The possessors of muskets and sabres, in a greater number than one, will be required to place them in the hands of the commanders of the National Guards of the commune. The present order extends to all the province.’

Pitou thanked the officer and saw him at once set out. Pitou had reached the acme of glory, having received a message directly from Lafayette. All the electors requested to see and touch the ministerial seal, a favour Pitou kindly granted.

When none but the initiated remained, Pitou said, ‘Citizens, my plans succeeded I wrote to General Lafayette, who wished to form a National Guard and had selected me as commander. Read the directions of this letter.’

The despatch had been directed :

‘Citizen,

‘Ange Pitou,

‘Commander of the National Guard of Haramont.’

‘I am then recognised in my rank, by Lafayette, as commander. You are recognised as Guards.’

A loud shout was raised.

‘I know where we can get arms,’ said Pitou. You will at once appoint a lieutenant and a sergeant. Those two functionaries will accompany.’

All present seemed to hesitate.

‘What is your opinion, Pitou?’ said Maniquet.

“The matter does not concern me. Meet alom and appoint the two functionaries. But appoint capable ones.’

Pitou bade adieu to his soldiers, ana remained in a state of solemn grandeur. He thus remained in his glory while the soldiers discussed the details of the military power

42fl TAKING THE BASTILLE

which was to restrain Haramont, The election lasted an hour. The lieutenant and sergeant chosen were Tellier and Maniquet, the last of whom was the subaltern. They returned and announced the fact to Pitou.

He then said t ‘Now there is no time to lose.’

‘Yes,’ said an enthusiast, ‘let us begin the manual.’

‘Wait a moment, let us get guns first.’

‘True. We must have muskets.’

‘Come with me, then, lieutenant and sergeant. The rest of you wait here.’

All acquiesced respectfully.

‘We have six hours’ daylight yet left. That is more time than is needed to go to Villers-Cotterets.’

‘Forward 1’ said Pitou.

The staff of the army of Haramont set ofL

THB Abbe Fortier was far from suspecting what danger he was in, prepared carefully for him by deep diplomacy. He had no idea of Pitou’s influence.

He was seeking to prove to Sebastian that bad company is the ruin of innocence; that Paris is a pit of perdition; that even angels would be corrupted there, like those who went astray at Gomorrah and, seriously impressed by Pitou’s visit, besought Sebastian always to remember to be a good and true loyalist. Strange to say, at a period when the minds of most children are, so to say, mere potter’s clay, on which every pressure leaves a mark, Sebastian, in fixity of purpose, was a man.

All at once a loud knock was heard at the door in Soissons Street, and it immediately opened and admitted several persons. They were the mayor, adjunct, and town clerk. JBebind them were the gendarmes, after whom came several curious persons. The abb6 went at once to the mayor, and said,

‘Monsieur Lonpre, what is the matter?’

‘Abbe, are you aware of the new order of the Minister of War?’

‘1 am not.’

‘Be pleased to read this.’

As he read it he grew pale. ‘Well 1’ said he.

PITOU TRIUMPHS 4 a 7

‘Well. The gendarmes of Haramont expect you to surrender your arms.’

The abb sprang forward as if he would devour the National Guard. Pitou thought it time for himself to be his own lieutenant.

‘Here are the gentlemen,’ said the mayor.

The abbe’s face was flushed. ‘ What 1 these vagabonds 1 ‘

The mayor was a good-natured man, and as yet had no decided political opinions. He had no disposition to quarrel either with the Church or the National Guard.

The words of the abbe excited a loud laugh, and he said to Pitou, ‘Do you hear how he speaks of your command ?’

‘Because the abbe knew us when children, he fancies we can never grow old.’

‘The children, however, have now grown,’ said Maniquet, reaching forth his mutilated hand to the men.

‘And are serpents.’

‘Who will bite if they be trampled on,’ rejoined Mani* quet.

In these threats the mayor saw all the future revolution, and the abbe martyrdom.

‘ A portion of your arms are needed,’ said the mayor, who sought to effect a reconciliation.

‘They are not mine,’ said the abbd.

‘Whose are they?’

‘The Duke of Orleans’.’

‘The abbt forgets that if the duke were written to, he would reply that not only the weapons of his English enemies, out of his grandfather, Louis XIV., must be surrendered to patriots.’

The abb knew this was true, ‘Circum dedisti me hottibus meit.’

‘True, abbe I but to your purely political enemies. We hate in you only the bad patriot.’

‘Fool, said Fprtier, with an excitement which inspired him with a certain land of eloquence; ‘ fool, and dangerous fool t which is the patriot ? I, who would keep these arms, or you, who would use them in rapine and war ? Which is best? I, who cultivate the olive of peace, or you, who would lacerate the bosom of France, our common mother, with war?’

The mayor sought to conceal his emotion, and nodded to the abbe, as if to say, ‘Good.’

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Pitou was amazed. The two subalterns saw It, and were surprised. Sebastian alone was cool.

He approached Pitou, and said, ‘Well, what is to be done, Pitou?’

Pitou said, ‘The order is signed,’ and showed the minister’s, his father’s, and Lafayette’s signatures.

‘Why, then, do you hesitate?’

His flasliing eye, his erect iorm, showed clearly the two indomitable races from which he sprang.

The abbe heard his words, shuddered, and said, ‘Three generations oppose you.’

‘Abb6,’ saia the mayor, ‘the order must be obeyed.’

The abb6 put his hand on the keys which were in the girdle that from monastic habit he yet wore, and said, ‘ Never; they are not mine, and I will not surrender them till my master orders me.’

‘Abbe 1 abbe 1’ said the mayor, who felt compelled to disapprove.

‘This is rebellion,’ said Sebastian. ‘Master, be careful.’

‘Tu quoque,’ said the abbe, like Caesar folding his robe over his bosom.

‘Be at ease, abbd,’ said Pitou, ‘these arms will be in good hands for France.’

‘Hush, Judas, you betrayed your master. Why will you not betray your country?’

Pitou felt bis conscience prick him. What he had done was not at the instinct of a noble heart, though he had acted bravely. He looked around, and saw his two subalterns apparently ashamed of his weakness. Pitou felt that he was in danger of losing his influence. Pride came to the aid of this champion of the revolution.

He looked up and said, ‘Abbe, submissive as I was to my old master, not un replied to shall such comments be made.’

‘Ah, you reply,’ said the Abbe Fortier.

‘Yes; and tell me if I am not right. You call me traitor, and refuse me the arms I asked you kindly for, but which I now take in the name, and by the strong hand, of the law. Well, abbe, I had rather be called traitor to my master than, like you, have opposed the liberty of my country. Our country for ever 1

Then the gendarmes and Pitou, who was perfectly familiar with the locale in which he had grown up, proceeded to the museum. Sebastian rushed after the

PTTOU TRIUMPHS 419

patriots, the other children appeared amazed. After the door was opened the abb6 sank, half dead with mortifica-tion and rage, on the first chair. When once in the museum, Pitou’s assistants wished to pillage everything, but the honesty of the commandant restrained them. He took only thirty-three muskets, for he commanded thirty-three National Guards. As it might be necessary for him some day to fire a shot, he took, as a thirty-fourth, an officer’s gun, lighter and shorter than the others. He then selected a straight sword like Lafayette’s, which had perhaps been borne by some hero at Fontenoy or Philipsbourg. Each of his colleagues then placed twelve muskets on their shoulders, and were so delighted that they scarcely felt the enormous weight. Pitor took the rest. Our three heroes, loaded with their spoils, passed rapidly through the park, and reached the rendezvous. Exhausted and heated, they took their precious prize that night to Pitou’s house.

There was a meeting of the guard that night, and Pitou gave them the muskets.

Thus was the little commune, by the genius of Pitou, made to seem busy as an ant-hill during an earthquake. The next day was passed by the enthusiasts in cleaning and repairing their arms. Some rejoiced that the cock worked well, and others repaired the springs of the lock or replaced the screws. In the meantime, Pitou had retired to his room, as Agamemnon did to his tent, brightening his brains as others did their guns. What was Pitou thinking of? Pitou, become a leader of the people, was thinking of the hollowness of earthly grandeur. The time had come when the whole edifice he had erected was about to crumble. The guns had been issued on the evening before, and the day passed in putting them in order. On the next day he would have to drill his men, and Pitou did not know a single command of ‘Load in twelve times.’ What is the use of a commandant ignorant of the drill ? He thought with his head in his hands and his body prostrate.

‘Come,’ said Pitou, ‘time speeds, and to-morrow I must appear in all my significance. To-morrow the captor of the Bastille, the god of war, will be called by all Haramont an idiot, as I do not know who was by the Greeks. This cannot be. Catherine will know it, and will think me disgraced.’

4jo TAKING THE BASTILLE