Lucas stared at Pagani excitedly: "Why? Have you been scared by the Secret Police, or have those corrupt officials bought you off?"
"Have you forgotten? We all swore to save Austria, to fight for freedom for everyone with our lives!"
"Yes, they are arresting people everywhere now, and our printing press has been confiscated, but it's precisely at times like this that we need to be brave and fight."
"If even we shrink back, Austria will have no hope left!"
Pagani murmured: "No, no one needs saving anymore."
"What are you talking about? Have you seen those serfs who labor every day until sunset but can't even afford black bread..."
"They're no longer serfs," Pagani interrupted him, "You know, His Majesty the Emperor has allowed them to buy their own land, and now they only need to labor three days a week. Once they've paid the redemption money, they won't have to do any labor at all."
