This low-level despotism can and will cause great disasters, and the events of the drama about to be played in the valley of Les Aigues will prove it.
The monarchical and imperial systems, more rashly overthrown than people realize, remedied these abuses by means of certain consecrated lives, by classifications and categories and by those particular counterpoises since so absurdly defined as "privileges." There are no privileges now, when every human being is free to climb the greased pole of power.

But surely it would be safer to allow open and avowed privileges than those which are underhand, based on trickery, subversive of what should be public spirit, and continuing the work of despotism to a lower and baser level than heretofore.

May we not have overthrown noble tyrants devoted to their country's good, to create the tyranny of selfish interests?
Shall power lurk in secret places, instead of radiating from its natural source?
This is worth thinking about.

The spirit of local sectionalism, such as we have now depicted, will soon be seen to invade the Chamber.
Montcornet's friend, the late prefect, Comte de la Roche-Hugon, had lost his position just before the last arrival of the general at Les Aigues.
This dismissal drove him into the ranks of the Liberal opposition, where he became one of the chorus of the Left, a position he soon after abandoned for an embassy.

His successor, luckily for Montcornet, was a son-in-law of the Marquis de Troisville, uncle of the countess, the Comte de Casteran.