“It would appear then,” went on the examiner, “that in the action you took against your immediate over-lord, the Archbishop of Mayence, you were unprotected by the mandate of the Emperor. Freigraf and Freischoffen have heard question and answer. With extreme reluctance I am compelled to announce to this honourable body, that nothing now remains except to pronounce the verdict.” With this the examiner sat down, and for a few moments there was silence, then the Freigraf enunciated in a low voice the single word: “Condemned.” And beginning at the right hand, each member of the Court pronounced the word “Condemned.” Wilhelm listened eagerly to the word, expecting each moment to hear the voice of one or other of the Archbishops, but in this he was disappointed. The low tone universally used by each speaker gave a certain monotony of sound which made it almost impossible to distinguish one voice from another. This evident desire for concealment raised a suspicion in the young man’s mind that probably each member of the Court did not know who his neighbours were. When the examiner at the extreme left had uttered the word “Condemned” the Freigraf again spoke: “Is there any reason why the sentence just pronounced be not immediately carried out?” The examiner again rose to his feet and said quietly, but with great respect: “My Lord, I ask that this young man be not executed immediately, but on the contrary, be taken to his cell, there to be held during the pleasure of the Court.” There seemed to be a murmured dissent to this, but a whispered explanation passed along the line and the few that had at first objected, nodded their heads in assent. “Our rule cannot be set aside,” said the Freigraf, “unless with unanimous consent. Does any member demur?” No protests being made the Freigraf ordered Wilhelm to be taken to a cell, which was accordingly done.