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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 16:23:25 GMT -5
*Philippe was surprised when he first entered how full the room was. He knew the case was high profile but he had assumed that it would be kept quiet. A hush fell as he entered and sat.*
"It is like being tried without a judge."
*He muttered to Pierre who nodded.*
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 16:30:14 GMT -5
*A solitary figure in a heavy veil sat at the back of the courtroom, a silent spectator drawing no attention to herself--there were many like her, so no one gave any thought to this woman in particular.*
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 16:35:03 GMT -5
*Philippe glanced back to his aunt who nodded encouragingly. He then glanced at the clock 10 minutes to go.*
"No sign of Heloise?"
*He asked his servant who shook his head. Well, she would wish to make an entrance.*
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 16:43:39 GMT -5
((Orite that's me, too.))
*The Dowager Comtess de Chagny swept into the room with appropriate aplomb and self-assurance, followed by the largest entourage that the space and societal circumstances would allow. Rebecca shuddered involuntarily--she had not seen her since that blackest of days, years ago, when she had truly ceased to be a child, and entered fully into the sorrow of womanhood at barely seventeen.*
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 16:49:38 GMT -5
*Which was when the muttering started and continued even as the judge, an man in his fifties entered. Philippe realised, with a little relief that he knew him. Though, so it seemed did his mother. The judge promptly began the jargon preceeding the trial.*
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 17:01:57 GMT -5
*Heloise's attourney began the opening statements and rattled off the case summation before calling forth several witnesses who could attest to having seen public manifestations of Philippe's problem with drink, as well as a few tossing off comments as to the absent Raoul's utter abandon of societal propriety, though he wasn't there to defend himself, and couldn't, really.*
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 17:07:39 GMT -5
*Several hours later Philippe had decided that he could indeed use a drink. He had begun to only look through his hands at the proceedings when the judge called a break. Turning to his solictor he found him deep in discussion with his aid. Philippe imagined that was not a good sign. Looking back into the public seating he saw the woman with the veil at the back. He imagined it could be Rebecca, though he was not sure.*
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 17:11:09 GMT -5
((Should there BE a break?))
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 17:14:34 GMT -5
((Who knows?. The judge can call one if he wants one. Or if it is a short case they might do it in a few days. Swap sides as it were.))
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 17:21:03 GMT -5
*Some time later, after Heloise's lawyer had ceased to call witnesses, the case was handed to the defense lawyer. Pierre rose and shuffled some papers.*
"The defense would like to call Miss Rebecca Blakeney to the stand."
*A murmur of interest rippled through the room as Rebecca rose and drew back her veil, causing several gasps from those who had been seated nearest her. She made her way to the front of the courtroom, where she was sworn in and took a seat upon the witness stand. She glanced up and caught Heloise's eye for a moment and believed she might be ill, or faint. Then her glance slid to Philippe, and though her lips remained in a thin, firm line, something in her face softened with a kind of relief, knowing he was there, and that they were in the right.*
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 17:24:14 GMT -5
*Philippe held her gaze for a moment before attempting a smile. It amazed him that she would do this for him, after ever. He breathed out sharply, perhaps he had been holding his breath... Pierre smiled gently at Miss Blakeney before beginning.*
"Miss Blakeney could you please state your relationship to the Comte De Chagny?"
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 17:41:59 GMT -5
*She held her head high as she answered without faltering.*
"We were wed. Our marriage has since been annulled."
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 17:44:32 GMT -5
*Pierre nodded.*
"And during the course of your marriage did the alleged drinking of Monsieur Le Comte affect his ability to manage his estate?"
*Philippe had to look away at that. Pierre had not mentioned that he would question in the vein though he imagined he was laying the groundwork.*
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Post by Rebecca on Apr 23, 2008 17:51:49 GMT -5
"Not that I was aware of. The staff seemed well-organized, fairly-treated, and content. I understood that Monsieur le Vicomte, Raoul de Chagny, had run up some minor debts, and that Monsieur le Comte, Philippe de Chagny, saw to it that these deficits were erased. No one in Philippe's employ suffered as a result of his drinking."
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Post by Philippe on Apr 23, 2008 17:54:32 GMT -5
*Pierre inclined his head, satisfied with the answer.*
"Now, could you please explain your relationship with the Dowager Comtess, was it amicable?"
*Philippe risked a glance over to his mother and her party. A few of them were whispering frantically to each other.*
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