 A distinguished and popular professor of trial law is afflicted with "senility." No one has noticed this except his students, perhaps because his symptoms are worse under the pressure of a lecture situation. Many of the students are frustrated and want to petition to have him replaced as they feel his performance compromises their education. Ford, having witnessed the problem in his own grandfather and enduring his devastation at being removed from the family s firm, has sympathy and wants to find a kinder way to resolve the problem. He goes to Kingsfield for help who denies it s an issue and chastises him; but Kingsfield play s chess with Professor Grey and in beating him easily discovers they re right. Eventually he offers him and Emeritus position, and the Professor with grace, dignity and final lesson thrown in resigns from teaching.