Nevertheless, their sympathies inclined to absolute power as the best protection against the socialists, their puny but ardent adversaries.

And just as they imitated the habits of the aristocrats, so they imitated their political and religious sentiments.

Their women, in particular, loved the Prince and had dreams of appearing one day at his Court.
However, the Republic retained some partisans and defenders.

If it was not in a position to believe in the fidelity of its own officials it could at least still count on the devotion of the manual labourers, although it had never relieved their misery.

These came forth in crowds from their quarries and their factories to defend it, and marched in long processions, gloomy, emaciated, and sinister.