The queen preferred the factions.

She thus plainly spoke to her confidents.

"M.

de La Fayette," she said, "will not be the mayor of Paris in order that he may the sooner become the _maire du Palais_.

Petion is a Jacobin, a republican; but he is a fool, incapable of ever becoming the leader of a party: he would be a nullity as _maire_, and, besides, the very interest he knows we should take in his nomination might bind him to the king." Petion was the son of a _procureur_ at Chartres, and a townsman of Brissot; was brought up in the same way as he,--in the same studies, same philosophy, same hatreds.