And was it not the monstrous spectacle presented by Christendom, whose abominations corrupted the people, and maddened it with hatred and vengeance, that had largely destroyed its faith?
However, after this picture of rotting and crumbling society, Pierre returned to history, to the period of the French Revolution, to the mighty hope with which the idea of freedom had filled the world.

The middle classes, the great Liberal party, on attaining power had undertaken to bring happiness to one and all.

But after a century's experience it really seemed that liberty had failed to bring any happiness whatever to the outcasts.

In the political sphere illusions were departing.

At all events, if the reigning third estate declares itself satisfied, the fourth estate, that of the toilers,* still suffers and continues to demand its share of fortune.