[138] "Artisans, once useful,
but now tired of working, and whom the profession of paid clubbists,
idle guardians," and paid laborers "has totally demoralized,"
scoundrels in league with each other and making money out of whatever
they can lay their hands on, like thieves at a fair, habitually living
at the expense of the public, "bestowing the favors of the nation on
those who share their principles, harboring and aiding many who are
under the ban of the law and calling themselves model patriots,[139]
that is, in the pay of gambling hells and houses of prostitution." -
In the rural districts, the old bands "consisting of hordes of
homeless brigands" who worked so well during the anarchy of the
Constituent and Legislative assemblies, form anew during the anarchy
of the Directory; they make their appearance in the vicinity of Apt
"commencing with petty robberies and then, strong in the impunity and
title of sans-culottes, break into farm-houses, rob and massacre the
inmates, strip travelers, put to ransom all who happen to cross their
path, force open and pillage houses in the commune of Gorges, stop
women in the streets, tear off their rings and crosses," and attack
the hospital, sacking it from top to bottom, while the town and
military officers, just like them, allow them to go on.
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