182 FRESNEL. 
expose himself to the fatigues and dangers of a civil war. 
“Your superiors, Sir,” said he, “have enjoined on you 
this expedition.” “No, general,’ he replied, “I have 
taken no advice but my own.” “I pray you tell me 
without reserve, has any one threatened you with not 
paying your appointments?” “No such threat has been 
made; my appointments have been regularly paid.” 
“Very well; I ought, between ourselves, to warn you 
that you can here reckon only on what may be got by 
chance.” “I have reckoned my own resources; I 
neither hope nor desire any other recompense. I pre- 
sent myself to you to fulfil my duty.” “I admire you, 
Sir; it is thus that every good servant of the royal cause 
ought to think and act; I participate in your honourable 
sentiments ; you may reckon on my good will.” 
That good will, in fact, did not fail; and the questions 
which at first had been painful to Fresnel, showed solely 
that his questioner, less a novice in the ways of the 
world, knew by experience that a popular gathering, 
under whatever colour it may show itself, includes more 
than a few individuals who under high pretensions con- 
ceal personal interests. 
Fresnel returned to Nyons, his usual residence, almost 
dying. ‘The news of the events of the Palud had pre- 
ceded him. The populace (we know what this term sig- 
nifies in the south) offered him a thousand insults. A 
few days afterwards an imperial commissary declared 
his deprivation of his office, and placed him under the 
surveillance of the police. Far be it from me to ex- 
tenuate the odious nature of such a transaction. I ought, 
however, to say that it was executed without need- 
less rigour, and that Fresnel obtained permission to go to 
Paris; that he lived there without being disturbed; that 
. 
ae nga 
