Dupierre muttered a few words but didn''t dare to speak aloud.
Andre gestured to the attending soldiers , "Confiscate his weapons, tie him up, and take him back to the barracks."
"The people''s court will decide your fate." He threw the last words at the big guy with disgust.
"This is unfair!" After Dupierre was taken away, Philippe immediately led his horse over and complained loudly, "You''re too harsh on Old Dupierre!"
Andre coldly glanced down at him. "What, Philippe! The Revolution brings salvation and liberation, not fratricide!"
"Fratricide?" Philippe laughed sarcastically, as if he heard something unbelievable. Then he roared with fury, even his voice trembling, "when they slaughtered the patriots in Machecoul, did they regard us as fraters? As they nailed Sacha to a stake and chopped off his limbs, did they regard him as a frater? Whereby should it be us?!"
This brave, almost reckless young man finally could no longer suppress his emotions and burst into a sob, "Ah, what''s the point of our sacrifice, if we die at the hands of the people we fight for!"
He crouched down, covering his face with his hands, sobbing and weeping.
Andre jumped off his horse and knelt in front of Philippe, silently laying his hand on his friend''s shaking shoulder.
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"Perhaps I could convince these peasants! I will explain to them the principles of revolution, and warm up their hearts with the ideals of the Republic!" After riding in silence for a while, Edith seemed to have taken a resolution and galloped closer to Andre.
"What?" Andre was stunned for a moment, then he grabbed Edith''s hand anxiously and said, "No! You mustn''t entertain such naive ideas. They won''t listen to you. These people can never be persuaded with a few words. You will only put yourself in danger!"
Edith''s lips framed a few words, but stopped under the distressed gaze of her lover.
Andre sighed and held her shoulders tightly. "Promise me that you won''t talk to strangers easily, let alone be alone with the locals, and reveal your identity, okay? Edith, darling!"
The young girl nodded bleakly.
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In the evening, the group ultimately arriv