ancing at the notes in his hand. "He claims to be a patriot, yet abandons his responsibility when the republic needs him most. And what for? The death of a tyrant!"
"No wonder you are fixated on him!" Charlotte quipped, turning her head back towards her friend with a playful smile. "This Quenet of yours truly looks like a Helios!"
Edith blushed and gave her friend a light pat on the shoulder.
Indeed, he looked particularly handsome tonight. The lights highlighted his square and graceful jawline, adding more colour to his otherwise too pale cheeks.
As the speech ended, a sharp male voice suddenly broke out in the hall.
"I accuse Quenet of being an aristocrat! His position is suspicious!" He pointed his arm mercilessly at Andre on stage.
"What''s the evidence?" Andre was unmoved, coolly questioning in return.
Another person in the crowd shouted, "Someone saw you frequently entering a lord''s castle in Vendée! Just in last year!"
At this, Andre appeared to become uneasy. Edith saw him slightly moved back, his arm on the lectern tense, while the other hand unconsciously pulled at his bow tie hanging from his chest.
Inside the club were still many supporters of Roland. Dissatisfied with the accusations made by the speaker, they chimed in one after another, demanding an investigation into the allegation against Quenet.
As Andre remained silent, the audience burst into an uproar, people began to murmur in a flurry amongst themselves.
Suddenly, a ringing voice stopped the commotion: "I demand to speak."