turned out it was more of an interrogative inquisition , jurgen had crumbled and left the speakers platform pretending his microphone didnt work it wasnt very convincing the day was saved by his newly employed personal assistant thomas whod had the presence of mind to step up and site the pledge of the newspapers guild of which jurgens father was the president reiterating it section by section in a hypnotic monotone , receiving a ripple of applause and making an announcement for refreshments at the bar before walking calmly from the same platform .