Deep as was the impression produced, the city remained calm, but somewhat
sullen; in any case, the report wanted confirmation. Napoleon, who knew
of the sympathy that the mountaineers felt for him, went at once into the
Alps, and his eagle did not as yet take so high a flight that it could be
seen hovering above Mount Geneve.

On the 12th, the Duc d'Angouleme arrived: two proclamations calling the
citizens to arms signalised his presence. The citizens answered the call
with true Southern ardour: an army was formed; but although Protestants
and Catholics presented themselves for enrolment with equal alacrity, the
Protestants were excluded, the Catholics denying the right of defending
their legitimate sovereign to any but themselves.

This species of selection apparently went on without the knowledge of the
Duc d'Angouleme. During his stay in Nimes he received Protestants and
Catholics with equal cordiality, and they set at his table side by side.
It happened once, on a Friday, at dinner, that a Protestant general took
fish and a Catholic general helped himself to fowl. The duke being
amused, drew attention to this anomaly, whereupon the Catholic general
replied, "Better more chicken and less treason." This attack was so
direct, that although the Protestant general felt that as far as he was
concerned it had no point, he rose from table and left the room. It was
the brave General Gilly who was treated in this cruel manner.

Meanwhile the news became more disastrous every day: Napoleon was moving
about with the rapidity of his eagles. On the 24th March it was reported
in Nimes that Louis XVIII had left Paris on the 19th and that Napoleon
had entered on the 20th. This report was traced to its source, and it
was found that it had been spread abroad by M. Vincent de Saint-Laurent,
a councillor of the Prefecture and one of the most respected men in