A Hallowed Place Read Online Free PDF

want to put them off, but I need to see my doctor, and it turns out that the only time he can fit me in is around half four this afternoon. After that he’s off to some golfing holiday in Portugal and won’t be back for three weeks.’ Cameron dropped his voice. ‘Between you and me, I don’t think I can wait three weeks. I’ve been having these stomach pains all summer. I’m frankly not feeling quite the thing. I haven’t been able to keep anything down for two days, and I really think I have to do something about it.’
    ‘God, I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Leo. Come to think of it, he did think old Cameron had been looking a bit yellow round the gills the past few days. And was it his imagination, or hadn’t he lost a bit of weight? With a fellow of Cameron’s size, it was hard to tell, but he certainly didn’t seem his old Falstaffian self.
    ‘So I wondered if you’d mind seeing these people for me.’
    ‘Yes, of course I will. What time are they coming?’
    ‘Around five.’
    ‘Fine. I’ll be back well before then. Anyway, I’d better dash.’
    Leo hurried out of the door and collided with Sarah as she was coming up the steps.
    ‘Morning, Leo,’ said Sarah. ‘Shouldn’t run at your age, you know. Not dignified.’
    Leo sighed. Exasperating as he found her, he couldn’t help thinking how pretty and professional she looked in her immaculately cut black suit and white, silk blouse, her blonde hair neatly tied back. The very picture of a demure young barrister. If only the world knew the true Sarah. ‘Thank you for that piece of advice. Now let me give
you
one. It’s not a good idea to keep your pupilmaster hanging about on your very first day. It creates a bad impression. And in your case, impression is everything. Don’t get the idea that dear David is a soft touch. He may seem that way, but when it comes to business, he’s all business. Goodbye.’
    ‘See you later.’ Sarah turned, smiling, as Leo hurried down the steps. ‘Isn’t it nice that we’re going to be seeing so much of one another from now on?’
    ‘Bliss,’ murmured Leo as he strode up Middle Temple Lane.

    Felicity looked up from her desk as Sarah came into the reception area. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked.
    ‘I’m Sarah Colman. Mr Liphook’s pupil. I’m starting today.’
    ‘Oh, yes! Hello - I’m Felicity. I’m the junior clerk.’ They shook hands, appraising one another. ‘I’m afraid MrLiphook’s left. He’s got an arbitration today. I think he was expecting you a bit earlier.’
    Sarah did her best to look anxious and contrite. ‘I know. I feel dreadful about being so late. The trains were all over the place.’
    ‘Oh, well, not to worry. I’m sure you couldn’t help it.’ Sarah’s expression flickered slightly at this. She didn’t much like the mumsy, patronising tone. Nor the implied criticism. A junior clerk was only a jumped-up office girl, after all. One with appalling taste in clothes at that. Low-cut jumpers and short skirts were pretty vulgar, even if you did have the figure for them. Still, since she was playing the part of the anxious-to-please pupil, she’d better keep up the front.
    ‘No. It would happen on my first day, of all days, though.’
    ‘Well, he’s only just left. If you set off now, you’ll probably get there before they start. It’s at the arbitration centre at More Fisher Brown, near Spitalfields. You can get a bus on Fleet Street to take you up to Liverpool Street. I’ll write down the address.’ She scribbled it down.
    ‘Thanks,’ said Sarah, taking the piece of paper from Felicity. ‘I only hope I’m not too late.’
    She hurried out into the warm September sunshine, then dropped her pace to a saunter once she was out of Caper Court. A boring old arbitration was the last thing she felt like doing. She’d have preferred to sit and drink coffee in David’s room and read a newspaper, or skive off to Middle Temple Common Room. Still, one had to show willing. As