the presence of the local dignitaries from the town and its
outskirts. After an interminable number of compliments, we took our
places at a table laden with the most exclusive dishes. Above all,
there were ortolans, birds which thrive well in this part of the
country.

A great many toasts were drunk. Virulent speeches were made,
denouncing the "Enemies of liberty" and the dinner did not end until
ten o'clock in the evening. It was a little late to return to
Bompart, and anyway, my father could not with politeness leave his
hosts the moment the meal was over. He decided then to spend the
night at Cavaillon, and the rest of the evening was passed in rather
noisy talk. Eventually, one by one, the guests went home and we were
left alone.

The next morning, M. Gault asked the inn-keeper how much my father
owed for his part in the immense feast of the night before, which he
assumed was a communal meal in which each paid for his own share.
The inn-keeper presented him with a bill of more than 1500 francs.
The good "Patriots" not having paid a single sou!...We were told that
though some had expressed a wish to pay, the great majority had
replied that this would be "An insult to General Marbot"....!

Capt. Gault was furious at this procedure, but my father, who at
first could not get over his astonishment, burst into laughter, and
told the inn-keeper to go and collect the money at Bompart, to where
we returned straight away, without saying a word of this to the
chatelaine; whose servants we tipped handsomely, and then, taking
advantage of the fall in the water level, we at last crossed the
Durance and made our way to Aix.