M. V______'s house, which stood in the middle of the town, was sacked and
then burnt to the ground, without a hand being raised to prevent the
crime.

M. T______'s house, on the road to Montpellier, was sacked and wrecked
and a bonfire made of the furniture, round which the crowd danced; as if
it had been an occasion of public rejoicing. Then cries were raised for
the proprietor, that he might be killed, and as he could not be found the
baffled fury of the mob vented itself on the dead. A child three months
buried was dragged from its grave, drawn by the feet through the sewers
and wayside puddles, and then flung on a dung-heap; and, strange to say,
while incendiarism and sacrilege thus ran riot, the mayor of the place
slept so sound that when he awoke he was "quite astonished," to use his
own expression, to hear what had taken place during the night.

This expedition completed, the same company which had brought this
expedition to a successful issue next turned their attention to a small
country house occupied by a widow, whom I had often begged to take refuge
with us. But, secure in her insignificance, she had always declined our
offers, preferring to live solitary and retired in her own home. But the
freebooters sought her out, burst in her doors, drove her away with blows
and insults, destroyed her house and burnt her furniture. They then
proceeded to the vault in which lay the remains of her family, dragged
them out of their coffins and scattered them about the fields. The next
day the poor woman-ventured back, collected the desecrated remains with
pious care, and replaced them in the vault. But this was counted to her
as a crime; the company returned, once more cast forth the contents of
the coffins, and threatened to kill her should she dare to touch them
again. She was often seen in the days that followed shedding bitter
tears and watching over the sacred relics as they lay exposed on the