And between the lowly and the aristocracy there was as yet no firmly seated middle class, with the vigour of fresh sap and sufficient knowledge, and good sense to act as the transitional educator of the nation.

The middle class was made up in part of the old servants and clients of the princes, the farmers who rented their lands, the stewards, notaries, and solicitors who managed their fortunes; in part, too, of all the employees, the functionaries of every rank and class, the deputies and senators, whom the new Government had brought from the provinces; and, in particular, of the voracious hawks who had swooped down upon Rome, the Pradas, the men of prey from all parts of the kingdom, who with beak and talon devoured both people and aristocracy.

For whom, then, had one laboured?
For whom had those gigantic works of new Rome been undertaken?
A shudder of fear sped by, a crack as of doom was heard, arousing pitiful disquietude in every fraternal heart.

Yes, a threat of doom and annihilation: as yet no people, soon no aristocracy, and only a ravenous middle class, quarrying, vulture-like, among the ruins.
On the evening of that day, when all was dark, Pierre went to spend an hour on the river quay beyond the Boccanera mansion.

He was very fond of meditating on that deserted spot in spite of the warnings of Victorine, who asserted that it was not safe.