Feeling that this accusation had some truth in it, they were silent, but then they were accused of hating the royal family, till at length the cry which at first had issued from full hearts in a universal chorus grew to be nothing but an expression of party hatred, so that on the 21st February, 1815, M.Daunant the mayor, by a decree, prohibited the public from using it, as it had become a means of exciting sedition.

Party feeling had reached this height at Nimes when, on the 4th March, the news of the landing of Napoleon arrived.
Deep as was the impression produced, the city remained calm, but somewhat sullen; in any case, the report wanted confirmation.

Napoleon, who knew of the sympathy that the mountaineers felt for him, went at once into the Alps, and his eagle did not as yet take so high a flight that it could be seen hovering above Mount Geneve.
On the 12th, the Duc d'Angouleme arrived: two proclamations calling the citizens to arms signalised his presence.

The citizens answered the call with true Southern ardour: an army was formed; but although Protestants and Catholics presented themselves for enrolment with equal alacrity, the Protestants were excluded, the Catholics denying the right of defending their legitimate sovereign to any but themselves.
This species of selection apparently went on without the knowledge of the Duc d'Angouleme.

During his stay in Nimes he received Protestants and Catholics with equal cordiality, and they set at his table side by side.