Just as Adorno was lost in thought, someone on horseback came chasing from behind, loudly asking where General Kosport was.
Adorno noticed the red insignia on the rider's arm—indicating he bore the most urgent message—and hurriedly pushed open the carriage door, waving: "Sir, is there something urgent?"
The rider turned his head and, recognizing this leader of the "Stone Slab Faction," quickly rode over.
The so-called "Stone Slab Faction" represented the sans-culottes, named after the location of their first gathering on Stone Slab Street.
The rider leaned down, whispering to Adorno, "Member of Parliament, Engelszell Town has fallen."
Adorno felt a sudden emptiness in his mind, standing frozen.
Engelszell Town was the last town on the northwest border of Austria. Losing it meant the National Assembly's forces had been completely expelled from Upper Austria, the core region of Austria.
