Crushed by Mirabeau, they stirred up against him all those whom the shadow of that great man eclipsed in common with themselves.

They sought for a rival to oppose to him, and found only men who envied him.

Barnave presented himself, and they surrounded him, applauded him, intoxicated him with his self-importance.

They persuaded him for a moment that phrases were politics, and that a rhetorician was a statesman.
Mirabeau was great enough not to fear, and just enough not to despise him.

Barnave, a young barrister of Dauphine, had made his _debut_ with much effect in the struggles between the parliament and the throne which had agitated his province, and displayed on small theatres the eloquence of men of the bar.