A Certain Justice Read Online Free PDF

changed her mind. And she is, of course, the senior. Only just, but there it is. She was called a term before you.”
    Laud said: “Venetia made her position perfectly plain four years ago, when you were off for two months with glandular fever and we had a Chambers meeting. I asked her then whether she wanted to take the chair. I remember her reply perfectly. ‘I have no ambition to occupy that seat either temporarily or when Hubert decides to vacate it.’ What part has she ever played in running this place, in the more tedious chores, even in the finance? All right, she comes to Chambers meetings and protests at whatever other people propose, but what does she actually do? Her own career has always come first.”
    “Perhaps this is about her career. I’ve been wondering if she might not have an ambition to become a judge. She’s apparently enjoying sitting as an assistant recorder. If so, succeeding me as Head of Chambers would be important to her.”
    “It’s important to me. For God’s sake, Hubert, you can’t let her cut me out because I happened to have appendicitis at the wrong time. The only reason she’s senior to me is because I was in the operating theatre on the day she was called. It put me a term behind. I don’t think Chambers is going to choose Venetia because she was called in the Michaelmas term and I was forced to wait until the Lent.”
    Langton said: “But it does make her senior. If she wants the job it will be embarrassing to reject her.”
    “Because she’s a woman? I thought we’d come to that. Well, it may terrify the more timid members of Chambers but I think they’ll put fairness over political correctness.”
    Langton said mildly, “But it isn’t exactly political correctness, is it? We do have a policy. There is a code of practice on sexual discrimination. That’s what it’s going to look like if we pass her over.”
    Trying to control the mounting anger in his voice, Laud said: “Has she spoken to you? Has she actually said she wants it?”
    “Not to me. Someone — I think it was Simon — said she’d hinted at it to him.”
    It would be Simon Costello, thought Laud. Number Eight, Pawlet Court, like all Chambers, was a hotbed of gossip, but Simon’s contribution to it was notorious for inaccuracy. If you wanted reliable news you didn’t go to Simon Costello.
    He said: “It’s pure guesswork. If Venetia wanted to initiate a campaign she’d hardly begin with Simon. He’s one of her
bêtes noires
.” He added: “It’s important to avoid a contest if it’s at all possible. It’ll be fatal if we descend to personalities. Chambers could become a bear garden.”
    Langton frowned: “Oh, I hardly think so. If we have to vote, that’s what we’ll do. People will accept the majority decision.”
    Laud thought with some bitterness: And you no longer care. You won’t be here. Ten years of working together, of covering up your indecision, of advising without appearing to advise. And you do nothing. Don’t you realize that defeat would be, for me, an intolerable humiliation?
    He said: “I can’t think she’ll have much support.”
    “Oh I don’t know. She’s probably our most distinguished lawyer.”
    “Oh, come off it, Hubert! Desmond Ulrick is our most distinguished lawyer beyond question.”
    Langton stated the obvious. “But Desmond won’t want it when the time comes. I doubt whether he’ll even notice the change.”
    Laud was calculating. He said: “The people at the Salisbury Annexe and those who work mainly from home probably care less than those physically in Chambers, but I doubt whether more than a minority will want Venetia. She’s not a conciliator.”
    “But is that what we need? There are going to have to be changes, Drysdale. I’m happy I shan’t be here to see them, but I know they’ll come. People talk about managing change. There’ll be new people in Chambers, new systems.”
    “Managing change. That fashionable shibboleth. Venetia