"But if the invaders were shooting the innocent ones and burning their homes!".

.

.
His nephew prevented his saying more.

He turned pale, an ashy hue spreading over his face; his eyes snapped and his face trembled like that of the lieutenant who had taken possession of the castle.
"You refer to the execution of the mayor and the others.

My comrades have just been telling me about it; yet that castigation was very mild; they should have completely destroyed the entire village.