[OOC: You all deserve an apology for how long this has taken. My only defense is that real life events have swallowed far too much of my time this month. Furthermore, I'd like to ask that you forgive some of the formatting and terms of address. This is pretty long as it is, and I don't really have the time to format it properly. I just wanted to get it out there]
* * * * * * The Commissioner stood quickly. "Marquis deSuccess, may I ask a question before you step down?" The Marquis seated himself again. "Certainly" leblanc picked up a piece of paper from the table. "Your previous statement stated that you saw no evidence of impropriety 'from your office.' I take that to mean that you did actually observe any of the affairs of the colonies yourself, is that correct?" "It is" The Commissioner continues "And the statement continues in saying that you instructed your staff to verify the flow of funds both to and from the colonies, is that correct?" "It is" leBlanc allowed himself a thin smile "So, no one from your office actually set foot in a colony of the Crown?" The Marquis shuffled. "Yes, that is correct." "Thank you Marquis deSuccess" Commissioner leBlanc stepped around the table. "Your Majesty, I will ignore the personal attacks upon my character and my conduct as Commissioner to observe one fact. My assertations on this point are based on the actual observations of men loyal to the Crown who were in the Colonies. Duc deMylcondonnai's defense is based on the statements of men who have not left France proper. I trust you will weigh them accordingly. "And now, with your Majesty's leave, I would like to ask for a recess until after lunch." His majesty stood. "Granted. The Court will reconvene at 2pm" * * * * * * * * * The rain had not let up. Indeed the puddles in front of Versailles has certainly increased since lunch and were starting to accumulate into one large lake. Commissioner leBlanc turned to his assistant and muttered "One more day of rain and I swear I will accuse the weather of being an English plot. By then they could probably get a frigate this far up the Seine" The scene inside the courtroom was little different than in the morning. leblanc noted that both the Queen and the Princess had apparently found other things to do this afternoon -- that was noe small relief. After a brief shuffling of papers, Commissioner leBlanc spoke. "Your Majesty, this afternoon I would like to adress the charge of conspiracy to committ murder in the affair of Baron Noir leBlanc, one of my predecessors as Commissioner." "The legal scholars I have consulted tell me that a charge of murder must be based on several elements; motive, opportunity and action. I would like to address those elements in reverse order. To start, I would like to call Sergeant Philippe Savant, formerly of the Queen's Own." It took several minutes for Sergeant Savant to reach the witness chair -- mostly due to the fact that he was missing his left leg from the knee down. Having to sit basically next to the King didn't help either. After he was seated, the Commissioner continued. "Sergeant Savant, you served with the Queen's Own during 1672, is that correct?" "Yup, er, yes, it was, m'Lord" "And what did you do in His Majesty's Service? "I was the medical assistant." "I see. And during the campaigns of February 1672, did you have the opportunity to care for Baron leblanc after his mortal wound? "I did. It was noe of the more unusual cases that can through the medical tent." "It was? Go on, tell us more." "Well, for starters, it was relatively obvious that the Baron was shot in the back -- several times in fact. Normally, back wounds mean that the person was shot while fleeing, but the multiple wounds and the fact he was an officer and all got me curious." The commissioner looked slightly uncomfortable. "And what did you find?" "French bullets. You can sometimes tell who made the bullet by the makers mark. The three bullets I removed from Baron leBlanc all were made in a French foundry. In fact, I checked them against the bullets in my pocket to be absolutely sure. They were the same." leBlanc visably relaxed. "So you are saying that Baron leBlanc was shot by his our own soldiers?" "Probably. Bullets do change hands from time to time, but multiple rounds in the back -- I'd say he was done in by Frenchmen." "Thank you Sergeant Savant." After another several minutes of Sergeant Savant getting down from the witness stand, Commissioner leBlanc continued. "Your Majesty, we have now established that Baron leblanc was almost certainly killed by France's own men. I would now like to establish intent by calling Private Jacob Guillame to the stand." A rather unkempt man in irons was dragged into the courtroom and chained to the witness stand "Private Guillame, please state where you were in February of 1672." "I was in the 69th." "I see. And were you involved in the murder of Baron leBlanc?" The soldier looked at his feet - "I was, milord. I was a much worse person then." The Commissioner's nose wrinkled. "Hrm. And did you have help in this?" "I did, milord. There were five of us. We ran together a lot back then." "And where are the rest of your 'gang' Private Guillame?" "Dead, milord. most of 'em died in the battle on the following morning. All 'cept Louis. He came back to Paris with me, but died of consumption last winter." leBlanc frowned. "I see. And what possessed you to murder Baron leBlanc?" Guillame was quick to answer "It was 'im, milord" as he pointed to Duc deMylcondonnai "He tried to hide himself in a bog cloak and all, but a face like that is hard to hide. He promised us money and nice houses in the country if we would see to it that Baron leBlanc had an accident." "Did this man say why he wanted Baron leBlanc killed, Private Guillame?" "Not really, he mentioned something about 'needing him out of the way,' but it didn't really make sense." "Thank you for your honesty, Private Guillame. Why are you coming forward now?" "I was caught breaking into a cathedral six months ago. The Bishop made me serve the time in a Frontier Brigade, but he taught me that I need to atone for my sins too. This is one of the larger ones I need to atone for." "Thank you again, you are free to return to your unit." The guards escorted Guillame from the courtroom. "Your Majesty, I have established the crime, and have linked Duc deMylcondonnai to it. I now wish further to offer a possible motive for the crime." Commissioner leBlanc pulled out a large stack of papers from behind his table. "This is several copies of some documents discovered last year near the spot where Baron leBlanc was murdered. I have the originals here for review if need be" Comissioner leBlanc handed a set to the King as well as one to Chevalier Ho. "The first page is a statement from Armand Chateaux of the University of Paris confirming that the original documents have the same handwriting as documents from the archives of the QOC known to be written by Baron leBlanc. I will spare the Court the burder of reading them all aloud, and summarize by saying they describe the beginnings of an investigation by Baron leBlanc into suspected improprieties in the office of the Inspector General of the Cavalry during late 1671. At the time, that office was held by Alain deMylcondonnai." Commissioner leBlanc waited for the murmer to subside. "Your Majesty, I have established that Baron Noir leBlanc was murdered by men of France's own army. I have established that the men responsible did so at the request of Alain deMylcondonnai. Furthermore, I have offered a motive for the murder consistent with the other history of the man -- the effort to hide corruption in the areas for which he is responsible. On this matter, I rest my case." ************************************************** Steve Nicewarner Cerebral Hobbies Chapel Hill, NC www.cerebralhobbies.com ************************************************** _______________________________________________ Banana mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.humf.su.se/mailman/listinfo/banana
