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Moreover； like other Frenchmen； they have been brought up in the
philosophy of the eighteenth century。 〃Liberty is so precious；〃
wrote the Duc de Brissac；＇6＇ 〃that it may well be purchased with
some suffering； a destroyed feudalism will not prevent the good and
the true from being respected and loved。〃 … They persist in this
illusion for a long time and remain optimists。 As they feel kindly
towards the people； they cannot comprehend that the people should
entertain other sentiments toward them； they firmly believe that the
troubles are transient。 Immediately on the proclamation of the
Constitution they return in crowds from Spain； Belgium； and Germany；
at Troyes there are not enough post…horses for many days to supply
the emigrants who are coming back。＇7＇ Thus they accept not only the
abolition of feudalism with civil equality； but also political
equality and numerical sovereignty。
Some consideration for them； some outward signs of respect； a few
bows； would； in all probability； have rallied them sincerely to
democratic institutions。 They would soon consent to be confounded
with the crowd； to submit to the common level； and to live as
private individuals。 Had they been treated like the bourgeois or
the peasant； their neighbors； had their property and persons been
respected； they might have accepted the new régime without any
bitterness of feeling。 That the leading emigrant nobles and those
forming a part of the old court carry on intrigues at Coblentz or at
Turin is natural； since they have lost everything： authority；
places； pensions； sinecures； pleasures； and the rest。 But； to the
gentry and inferior nobles of the provinces； chevaliers of Saint…
Louis； subaltern officers and resident proprietors； the loss is
insignificant。 The law has suppressed one…half of their seignorial
dues； but by virtue of the same law their lands are no longer
burdened with tithes。 Popular elections will not provide them with
places； but they did not enjoy them under the arbitrary ministerial
rule。 Little does it matter to them that power； whether ministerial
or popular； has changed hands： they are not accustomed to its
favors； and will pursue their ordinary avocations … the chase；
promenading； reading； visiting； and conversing … provided they；
like the first…comer； the grocer at the corner； or their farm…
servant； find protection； safety； and security on the public road
and in their dwellings。＇8＇
II。
Workings of the popular imagination with respect to them。 … The
monomania of suspicion。 … The nobles distrusted and treated as
enemies。 … Situation of a gentleman on his domain。 … M。 de。
Bussy
Popular passion； unfortunately； is a blind power； and； for lack of
enlightenment； suffers itself to be guided by spectral illusions。
Imaginary conceptions work； and work in conformity with the
structure of the excited brain which has given birth to them：
What if the Ancient Regime should return！
What if we were obliged to restore the property of the clergy！
What if we should be again forced to pay the salt tax； the excise；
the taille； and other dues which； thanks to the law； we no longer
pay； besides other taxes and dues that we do not pay in spite of the
law！
What if all the nobles whose chateaux are burnt； and who have given
rent acquittances at the point of the sword； should find some way to
avenge themselves and recover their former privileges！
Undoubtedly they brood over these things； make agreements amongst
each other； and plot with the strangers； at the first opportunity
they will fall upon us： we must watch them； repress them； and； if
needs be； destroy them。 … This instinctive process of reasoning
prevailed from the outset； and； in proportion as excesses increase；
prevails to a much greater extent。 The noble is ever the past；
present； and future creditor； or； at the very least； a possible one；
which means that he is the worst and most odious of enemies。 All
his ways are suspicious； even when he is doing nothing； whatever he
may do it is with a view of arming himself。
M。 de Gilliers； who lives with his wife and sister one league out of
Romans in Dauphiny；＇9＇ amuses himself by planting trees and flowers；
a few steps from his house； on another domain； M。 de Montchorel； an
old soldier； and M。 Osmond； an old lawyer from Paris； with their
wives and children； occupy their leisure hours in somewhat the same
manner。 M。 de Gilliers having ordered and received wooden water…
pipes； the report spreads that they are cannon。 His guest； M。
Servan； receives an English traveling…trunk； which is said to be
full of pistols。 When M。 Osmond and M。 Servan stroll about the
country with pencils and drawing…paper； it is averred that they are
preparing topographical plans for the Spaniards and Savoyards。 The
four carriages belonging to the two families go to Romans to fetch
some guests： instead of four there are nineteen； and they are sent
for aristocrats who are coming to hide away in underground passages。
M。 de Senneville； decorated with a cordon rouge （red ribbon）； pays a
visit on his return from Algiers： the decoration becomes a blue one；
and the wearer is the Comte d'Artois＇10＇ in person。 There is
certainly a plot brewing； and at five o'clock in the morning
eighteen communes （two thousand armed men） arrive before the doors
of the two houses； shouts and threats of death last for eight hours；
a gun fired a few paces off at the suspects misfires； a peasant who
is aiming at them says to his neighbor； 〃Give me a decent gun and I
will plant both my balls in their bodies！〃 Finally； M。 de Gilliers；
who was absent； attending a baptism； returns with the Royal
Chasseurs of Dauphiny and the National Guard of Romans； and with
their assistance delivers his family。 … It is only in the towns；
that is； in a few towns； and for a very short time； that an
inoffensive noble who is attacked obtains any aid； the phantoms
which people create for themselves there are less gross； a certain
degree of enlightenment； and a remnant of common sense； prevent the
hatching of too absurd stories。 … But in the dark recesses of
rustic brains nothing can arrest the monomania of suspicion。
Fancies multiply there like weeds in a dark hole： they take root and
vegetate until they become belief； conviction； and certainty； they
produce the fruit of hostility and hatred； homicidal and incendiary
ideas。 With eyes constantly fixed on the chateau； the village
regards it as a Bastille which must be captured； and； instead of
saluting the lord of the manor； it thinks only of firing at him。
Let us take up one of these local histories in detail。＇11＇ In the
month of July； 1789； during the jacquerie in Ma？onnais； the parish
of Villiers appealed for assistance to its lord； M。 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 t