Honestly? My vote is to knock 'em out. Act first, apologize later.

[ Yes, he knows he's talking about his dear friend Marianne among those numbers. It doesn't bring him any pleasure to think about raising a hand against her, but he won't hesitate if that's what will ultimately save her. If she hates him afterwards, then so be it.

It would be a kinder thing to leave that poor woman to silence while she gets healed, but Claude has never been accused of being kind -- he's far more interested in being right. ]

Have you had any luck in just convincing any of them to back off?