They no longer think of defense, they have abandoned their posts to the sans-culottes, "they refuse all civil and military functions,"[3373] they avoid doing duty in the National Guard and instead pay their substitutes.

In short, they withdraw from a game which, in 1789, they desired to play without understanding it, and in which, since the end of 1791, they have always burnt their fingers.

The cards may be handed over to others, especially as the cards are dirty and the players fling them in each others' faces; as for themselves they are spectators, they have no other ambitions.--"Leave them their old enjoyments,[3374] leave them the pleasure of going and coming throughout the kingdom; but do not force them to take part in the war.

Subject them to the heaviest taxation and they will not complain; nobody will even know that they exist, while the most serious question that disturbs them in their thoughtful days is, can one amuse one's self as much under a republican form of government as under the ancient regime ?" They hope, perhaps, to escape under cover of inoffensive neutrality.

Is it likely that the victor, whoever he is, will regard people as enemies who are resigned to his rule before-hand?
"A dandy[3375] alongside of me remarked, yesterday morning, 'They will not take my arms away, for I never had any.' Alas,' I replied to him, 'don't make a boast of it, for you may find forty thousand simpletons in Paris that would say the same thing, and, indeed, it is not at all to the credit of Paris.'"-- Such is the blindness or self-complacency of the city dweller who, having always lived under a good police, is unwilling to change his habits, and is not aware that the time has come for him to turn fighting man in his turn.
The manufacturers, the merchants and the man living on his income are even less disposed than the independent gentleman, to give up his private affairs for public affairs.