"The Court will rise!" [The throng packing the Grand Chambre at the Palais de Justice rise respectfully as the judge presiding, His Excellency le Duc Jean Senior, Jr, His Majesty's Minister of State, returns through the paneled door behind the bench and takes his seat. The Minister appears to take no notice of the throng, who decline even to whisper under the stern gaze of the Bailiffs. >From both tables, that at which the defendant is seated and that dedicated to the Commissioner, anxious gazes betray an uncertainty that had not been apparent in their practiced arguments. Finally the minister looks up]. "I have given this matter much consideration; the precedents, regulations, and bylaws of His Majesty's forces date back to the establishment of the Carolingian Kings. In these documents lie a deep and honored tradition, followed by men of honor for centuries. In this tradition, duties and responsibilities fall both on a soldier, to his commander, but also on an officer, towards the men he commands. A soldier is required to follow those orders which an officer might rightfully give him, while an officer must respect the men under his command, and not abuse his authority over them. I wish to emphasize that my decision is based solely on the facts of the case and the state of the law, and is to be considered a final disposition of this case. Bailiff;" Duc Senior hands a paper to the senior bailiff, "please announce the verdict." The bailiff steps forward, a strong, impressive man who would dwarf many who have sat in the chair Duc Senior now holds, but merely matches the Duc's stature, and reads: "To the first charge, of contravening an established regimental order: guilty. The existence of the order is established, and it is the responsibility of a member of the regiment to be familiar with all such orders. Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law. "To the second charge, of refusal to obey a direct order from the commanding officer of his regiment: not guilty. In His Majesty's forces, a commanding officer of a regiment has never had the authority to make such an order; a military rank is considered as property, and thus cannot be stripped without observance of the due process of military law. Since Colonel le d'Erring did not have the authority to order the defendant in that manner, the defendant is blameless in ignoring the order. "To the final charge, of refusal to take command of the junior Dragoon Guards squadron in contravention of direct order from the commanding officer of his regiment: not guilty. In His Majesty's forces, a transfer of command has always required the consent of the officer in question. Since in this matter no consent was given, Colonel le d'Erring did not have the authority to order the defendant in that manner, and thus the defendant is blameless in ignoring the order. "I sentence the accused to payment of a fine equal to that already paid, which payment will be credited, and immediate reduction in rank to Captain, which rank he may not exceed for a period of six months, with exception only should such need arise on the field of battle. "So it is written, and so shall it be done. Rise!" [Again, the throng rises to their feet, but the silence is broken by excited chatter as the minister pushes himself up from the bench, grimacing slightly in pain as he once more slips back through that paneled door].
