This was their weakness in the first days of the Revolution, and subsequently their strength.

Petion was beginning to gather in its harvest.
He had gradually, by his doctrines and his speeches, insinuated himself into the confidence of the people of Paris; he connected himself with literary men by the cultivation of his mind; with the Orleans party by his intimacy with Madame de Genlis, the favourite of the prince, and governess to his children.

He was spoken of in one place as a sage, who sought to embody philosophy in the constitution; in another as a sagacious conspirator, who desired to sap the throne, or to place upon it the Duc D'Orleans, embodying the interests and dynasty of the people.
This two-fold reputation was equally advantageous to him.

Honest men believed him to be an honest man,--malcontents to be a malcontent: the court disdained to fear him; it saw in him only an innocent Utopian, and had for him that contemptuous indulgence which aristocrats have invariably for men of political creed; besides, Petion ridded it of La Fayette.

To change its foe was to give it breathing time.
These three elements of success gave Petion an immense majority; he was nominated mayor of Paris by more than 6000 votes.