de Bussy, a
former colonel of dragoons. He had returned home, treated the
people of his village to a dinner, and attempted to form them into a
body of guards to protect themselves against incendiaries and
brigands; along with the well-disposed men of the place "he
patrolled every evening to restore tranquillity to the parish." On a
rumor spreading that "the wells were poisoned," he placed sentinels
alongside of all the wells except his own, "to prove that he was
acting for the parish and not for himself." In short, he did all he
could to conciliate the villagers, and to interest them in the
common safety. - But, by virtue of being a noble and an officer he
is distrusted, and it is Perron, the syndic of the commune, to whom
the commune now listens. Perron announces that the King "having
abjured his sworn word," no more confidence is to be placed in him,
and, consequently, neither in his officers nor in the gentry. On M.
de Bussy proposing to the National Guards that they should go to the
assistance of the chateau of Thil, which is in flames, Perron
prevents them, declaring that "these fires are kindled by the nobles
and the clergy.
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