For example, at Bordeaux, where one of these clandestine markets had been set up, M.Jean Davilliers, one of the partners in a large commercial house, is under arrest in his own house, guarded by four sans-culottes; on the 8th of Brumaire, he is taken aside and told "that he is in danger if he does not come forward and meet the indispensable requirements of the Revolution in its secret expenditures." An important figure, Lemoal, member of the revolutionary committee and administrator of the district, had spoken of these requirements and thought that M.Davilliers should contribute the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand livres.

Upon this, a knock at the door is heard; Lemoal enters and all present slip out of the room, and Lemoal pronounces these words only: "Do you consent ?"--"But I cannot thus dispose of my partners' property."-- "Then you will go to prison." At this threat the poor man yields and gives his note to Lemoal at twenty days, payable to bearer, for one hundred and fifty thousand livres, and, at the end of a fortnight, by dint of pushing his claims, obtains his freedom.

Thereupon, Lemoal thinks the matter over, and deems it prudent to cover up his private extortion by a public one.

Accordingly, he sends for M.Davilliers: "It is now essential for you to openly contribute one hundred and fifty thousand livres more for the necessities of the Republic.

I will introduce you to the representatives to whom you should make the offer." The chicken being officially plucked in this way, nobody would suppose that it had been first privately plucked, and, moreover, the inquisitive, if there were any, would be thrown off the scent by the confusion arising from two sums of equal amount.