To answer the question about the attitude of the French middle class toward the priest and nobleman standing on the steps in the context of conditions leading up to the French Revolution, it's essential to consider the historical context.
During the French Revolution, one of the major issues was the social and economic inequality in France, where the clergy (priests) and the nobility held significant power and privileges while the common people, including the middle class, faced economic hardship and inequality. The middle class was advocating for more political power and economic fairness.
Given this context, the most likely attitude of the French middle class toward the priest and nobleman standing on the steps would be:
"They should carry more of the burden."
The middle class was likely to view the clergy and nobility as enjoying excessive privileges and not contributing their fair share to the society's burdens. This sentiment ultimately contributed to the call for reforms and, in some cases, the removal of these privileges during the French Revolution.