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“Lady Fe
Lady Fe
“Naturally,” she said.
“From what you say,” said Sir Magnus tentatively, “you must have undergone a terrible, one might almost say unhinging experience, but you displayed all the qualities of courage and determination which have made English women the envy of the world.”
A slight outburst of clapping from the back of the court was immediately quelled.
“Whose side are you on?” hissed Adrian.
Sir Magnus smiled a quiet smile, took his snuff box out of his waistcoat and then, catching the judge’s eye, replaced it.
“There are several things that you have not told us,” said Sir Magnus, “and this displays a quality of modesty in your make-up which is, if I might be allowed to say so, utterly feminine and utterly charming.”
Lady Fe
“For example,” said Sir Magnus looking at the jury and throwing out a hand, “you have not said anything about your lineage. You were, I believe, a Plumbdragon?”
“I was,” said Lady Fe
“The Plumbdragons and Fe
“Yes,” said Lady Fe
“During that time,” said Sir Magnus looking at the jury, “the Plumbdragons and Fe
Sir Augustus, scenting a rat without being able to discern its shape, got to his feet.
“My lord,” he interrupted, “I really don’t see—fascinating though it is—what my learned friend’s speech adds to the case.”
“My lord,” said Sir Magnus, “I know that I am appearing for the defence. Nevertheless, I do not want it to appear that I have bullied and frightened a woman in the witness box and a woman, moreover, who has all those qualities of which I have been speaking.”
“But Sir Magnus,” pointed out the judge, “you have hardly as yet questioned the witness. There can be no possible reason for saying that you have bullied her.”
“M’lord,” said Sir Magnus, “I wish the jury to be easy in their minds.”
Here he cast a glance like a blow-lamp over the jury.
“We are all trying to get at the truth. That is why we are gathered here, and all I am saying to you, my lord, and to the jury, is that from the lips of such a noble, modest and aristocratic woman, we can expect nothing but the truth.”
“Well, she is on oath,” said the judge petulantly. “I would have thought that was sufficient. I feel it would be helpful if instead of lecturing us, Sir Magnus, you questioned the witness, endeavouring wherever possible not to bring any more animals into the case.”
“As your lordship pleases,” said Sir Magnus.
He turned and smiled at Lady Fe
“They are,” said Lady Fe
“You forgive me for asking that question,” said Sir Magnus. “To a sensitive, well brought up woman, such an experience must have been terrifying in the extreme, and so it would be understandable if your recollections of certain points were slightly blurred.”
“Sir Magnus,” said Lady Fe
“So observant,” said Sir Magnus as though to himself, “that you overlooked the fact that an elephant had taken up residence in your stables.”
Lady Fe
“Of course,” said Sir Magnus, soothingly, “it is a thing that we could all overlook, isn’t it?”
He glanced at the jury as though hoping that they would sympathise with Lady Fe
“However,” he continued, “to return to the night of the 28th April. You say that the elephant skidded into the ballroom, upset the tables containing the food and drink and then proceeded to rampage about, to use your own words, seeking whom it might devour. Your recollection of this part of the story is quite dear, is it?”
“Quite dear,” said Lady Fe
“Later on, you say you recovered consciousness,” said Sir Magnus, “in time to see the elephant deliberately endeavour to kill Sir Hubert?”
“Yes,” said Lady Fe
“Your impression was that this was an unprovoked attack by a dangerous and uncontrolled wild animal?”
“Yes,” said Lady Fe
“You had yourself just had an unpleasant experience by being carried by the elephant,” said Sir Magnus, “and you fainted, which is of course very right and proper. When you recovered consciousness you were lying, it appears, upon a salmon?”
“Yes,” said Lady Fe
“Did you sustain any bruises or contusions from this brief encounter?”
“No,” said Lady Fe
“Not an insatiable elephant,” said Sir Magnus. “One would have thought that it might have finished off one victim before starting on another.”
“Yet that’s what happened,” said Lady Fe
Sir Magnus sighed, took out his snuff-box absentmindedly, applied snuff to his nostrils and sneezed.
“Sir Magnus,” said the judge, “I hope I won’t have to remind you again about sneezing in court.”
“I apologise, m’lord,” said Sir Magnus. “I was carried away by emotion. It is with the utmost reluctance I have to make Lady Fe
He snapped his snuff-box shut, returned it to his pocket and turned once more to Lady Fe
“We have established then, Lady Fe
He glanced at the jury, a shiny, twinkling glance, and they all involuntarily nodded.
“Therefore,” said Sir Magnus, “I need not keep you very much longer. But there is just one small point which I would be glad if you would dear up for the sake of the jury.”
He paused and glanced down at his notes. It was perfectly obvious to everybody, including Lady Fe