Cévennes Mountains (France); France -- Description and travel
One of these was the Monsieur de Cachard. On June 24th, 1786, he gave a
dance to his neighbours, but found a difficulty in getting musicians.
He applied to the garrison at Valence, and was offered the drummer of
the regiment, who could also play the fife, and courteously he extended
the invitation to any of the officers who would care to take a part in
the entertainment. A young lieutenant accepted, his name was Napoleon
Bonaparte, and he brought with him the drummer, Victor Beausoleil.
Towards the conclusion of the ball, M. de Cachard went to the musician
and asked how he could repay his services. "Only by letting me have a
dance with mademoiselle your daughter." "By all means," replied the
master of the house, and Beausoleil led out the young lady.
The Revolution came. The family of Cachard was dispersed; some were
guillotined, some emigrated. At the Restoration, the head of the family
went to Paris to solicit the restitution of some of the confiscated
and sold estates. He solicited an audience with Marshal Victor, Duke
of Belluno, minister of war. No sooner was he introduced, than the
Duke started forward, grasped his hand and said: "Monsieur! we have
not met since Midsummer Day, 1786, when I piped, and had the honour
to dance with mademoiselle." The minister was, in fact, the drummer
from Valence. He interested himself in the case and obtained for M. de
Cachard the recovery of the ancient château and a portion of his lands.
The Duke was wont to joke over his title. "As a drummer-boy I was
Beausoleil. I have lost, not gained, by becoming a duke, for now I am
only Belluno (Belle Lune)."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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