“Mister Speaker, point of order,” Elektra DeWitt said.

“Your point?” D’Angelo answered.

“The business today is the no-confidence vote in the Government,” she answered.  “In light of this news, I ask an hour recess to contemplate what we have just heard.”

“One hour,” D’Angelo answered, “we return to exactly this point, and I order that the Lords’ private establishment be opened to serve traditional national beverages.”

An hour and a half later, D’Angelo again brought the house to order.  “It appears,” he said, “that Senator Hughes’ earlier report is indeed true.  We must, however, have a trial.  Is anyone present willing to offer a defense of the First Minister?”  He looked at the government benches, which were remarkably empty.

“Mister Speaker? Rafael Parlegrecco, True Monarchist Party.  No man should go without a defense, though mine will be very brief.  And I do not dispute the financial transaction allegations.”

“Madame DeWitt,” D’Angelo asked, “What is your will here?”

“Mister Speaker, I believe the body of financial transactions in the charges speak for themselves,” she answered.  “Would Senator Parlegrecco care now to present his defense?”

“Mister Speaker,” Parlegrecco answered, “I believe that the letters between the First Minister and our ambassador on Mogado speak for themselves.  It is clear that, in accord with his oath of office, the First Minister took the steps that be believed were in the best interest of the people of our Union, and followed the only path available to him to put those steps into effect.  I say this while believing that he was profoundly mistaken, but I believe that would be his best defense.”