Had the Emperor arrived at Avignon three hours later than he did there is no doubt that he would have been massacred.—­[The Royalist mob of Avignon massacred Marshal Brune in 1816.]—­He did not change horses at Avignon, through which he passed at five in the morning, but at St. Andiol, where he arrived at six.  The Emperor, who was fatigued with sitting in the carnage, alighted with Colonel Campbell and General Bertrand, and walked with them up the first hill.  His valet de chambre, who was also walking a little distance in advance, met one of the mail couriers, who said is him, “Those are the Emperor’s carriages coming this way?”—­“No, they are the equipages of the Allies.”—­“I say they are the Emperor’s carriages.  I am an old soldier.  I served in the campaign of Egypt, and I will save the life of my General.”—­“I tell you again they are not the Emperor’s carriages.”—­“Do not attempt to deceive me; I have just passed through Organ, where the Emperor has been hanged in effigy.  The wretches erected a scaffold and hanged a figure dressed in a French uniform covered with blood.  Perhaps I may get myself into a scrape by this confidence, but no matter.  Do you profit by it.”  The courier then set off at full gallop.  The valet de chambre took General Drouot apart, and told him what he had heard.  Drouot communicated the circumstance to General Bertrand, who himself related it to the Emperor in the presence of the Commissioners.  The latter, justly indignant, held a sort of council on the highway, and it was determined that the Emperor should go forward without his retinue.  The valet de chambre was asked whether he had any clothes in the carriage.  He produced a long blue cloak and a round hat.  It was proposed to put a white cockade in the hat, but to this Napoleon would not consent.  He went forward in the style of a courier, with Amaudru, one of the two outriders who had escorted his carriage, and dashed through Orgon.  When the Allied Commissioners arrived there the assembled population were uttering exclamations of “Down with the Corsican!  Down with the brigand!” The mayor of Orgon (the, same man whom I had seen almost on his knees to General Bonaparte on his return from Egypt) addressed himself to Pelard, the Emperor’s valet de chambre, and said, “Do you follow that rascal?”—­“No,” replied Pelard, “I am attached to the Commisairiers of the Allied powers.”—­Ah! that is well!  I should like to hang the villain with my own hands.

“Ah! if you knew, sir, how the scoundrel has deceived us!  It was I who received him on his return from Egypt.  We wished to take his horses out and draw his carriage.  I should like to avenge myself now for the honours I rendered him at that time.”