However, my captivity had made such a terrible impression on me that
I took a secret oath to dare any dangers that might assail me on the
territories of the King of France, rather than endure a repetition of
that hideous experience. Nothing but a miserable point of honour now
kept me at Roche-Mauprat. It was evident that a storm was gathering over
our heads. The peasants were discontented, in spite of all our
efforts to attach them to us; doctrines of independence were secretly
insinuating themselves into their midst; our most faithful retainers
were growing tired of merely having their fill of bread and meat; they
were demanding money, and we had none. We had received more than one
serious summons to pay our fiscal dues to the state, and as our private
creditors had joined hands with the crown officers and the recalcitrant
peasants, everything was threatening us with a catastrophe like that
which had just overtaken the Seigneur de Pleumartin in our province.(*)
(*) The reputation which the Seigneur de Pleumartin has left
behind him in the province will preserve the story of
Mauprat from the reproach of exaggeration. Pen would refuse
to trace the savage obscenities and refinements of cruelty
which marked the life of this madman, and which perpetuated
the traditions of feudal brigandage in Berry down to the
last days of the ancient monarchy.
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