Mirabeau: If you have been told to clear us from this hall, you must ask for orders to use force. We shall leave our seats only at bayonet point. The King can cause us to be killed; tell him we all await death; but he need not hope that we shall separate until we have made the constitution.Audible only to his neighbor, he adds, If they come, we bugger off, quick.
by Hilary Mantel
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In "A Place of Greater Safety" by Hilary Mantel, Mirabeau asserts the determination of revolutionaries who refuse to leave their assembly despite potential threats from authority. He challenges the King, indicating that any attempt to remove them would require the use of force. His resolve signals their commitment to drafting a constitution, showing that they are prepared to face violence rather than abandon their cause. Mirabeau's words reflect the intensity of their conviction and the high stakes involved in the political struggle of the time.

In a candid moment shared only with a neighbor, Mirabeau expresses a pragmatic approach to their situation, suggesting an escape plan if necessary. This combination of bold defiance and strategic caution highlights the tension among the revolutionaries. While they are fearless in their pursuit of establishing a constitution, they remain aware of the potential danger they face and are ready to act swiftly to safeguard themselves should the scenario turn dire. This duality encapsulates the volatile atmosphere of the French Revolution.

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