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Massacres of the South (1551-1815) - Celebrated Crimes by Alexandre Dumas père
page 260 of 294 (88%)
leagues beyond the town, and bring him his own safe-conduct and the
passports of his aides-de-camp. The marshal came downstairs, and finding
the horses ready, got into the carriage, on which loud murmurs arose from
the populace, amongst which could be distinguished the terrible word
'zaou!' that excited cry of the Provencal, which according to the tone
in which it is uttered expresses every shade of threat, and which means
at once in a single syllable, "Bite, rend, kill, murder!"

The marshal set out at a gallop, and passed the town gates unmolested,
except by the howlings of the populace, who, however, made no attempt to
stop him. He thought he had left all his enemies behind, but when he
reached the Rhone bridge he found a group of men armed with muskets
waiting there, led by Farges and Roquefort. They all raised their guns
and took aim at the marshal, who thereupon ordered the postillion to
drive back. The order was obeyed, but when the carriage had gone about
fifty yards it was met by the crowd from the "Palais Royal," which had
followed it, so the postillion stopped. In a moment the traces were cut,
whereupon the marshal, opening the door, alighted, followed by his valet,
and passing on foot through the Loulle gate, followed by a second
carriage in which were his aides-de-camp, he regained the "Palais Royal,"
the doors of which were opened to him and his suite, and immediately
secured against all others.

The marshal asked to be shown to a room, and M. Moulin gave him No. 1, to
the front. In ten minutes three thousand people filled the square; it
was as if the population sprang up from the ground. Just then the
carriage, which the marshal had left behind, came up, the postillion
having tied the traces, and a second time the great yard gates were
opened, and in spite of the press closed again and barricaded by the
porter Vernet, and M. Moulin himself, both of whom were men of colossal
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