His Lordship Possessed Read Online Free PDF

the bench a short time
    later. Th e wood-paneled courtroom was divided into two,
    and my aid-solicitor led me to a stand on the right in front of several rows of pews that were occupied here and there
    by several gentlemen, including Tom Doyle.
    I nodded to Doyle but then saw the face of the young
    clerk sitting beside him. “Mr. Gremley?”
    Clark hushed me and had me sit in one of the two
    chairs behind the stand while he took the other.
    “Not a word out of you until I say so,” he warned.
    “And naught a peep about Walsh or working for the
    wife.”
    Th e bailiff entered, calling for everyone present to
    stand. “Attention, attention, the seventh court of Rumsen
    city is now come to order, the Honorable Jason Newton
    presiding.”
    A stout middle-aged man in an ancient white wig and
    dusty-looking blue robes trudged in and took the chair
    behind the magistrate’s desk on the platform at the center
    back of the court. He looked at me for several moments
    before saying, “Be seated. Mr. Jones, you may present the
    fi rst case.”
    Th e magistrate’s clerk rose from his seat to the right
    of the bench and called out, “City of Rumsen versus Miss
    Charmian Constance Kittredge.”
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    Clark urged me up on my feet again as the clerk
    handed the magistrate the warrant.
    Magistrate Newton put on a pair of reading spectacles
    and reviewed the warrant. “Aid-solicitor Clark, Miss
    Kittredge appears to be charged with illegal practice of
    magic. How does she plead?”
    “Not guilty, your honor,” Clark said promptly.
    “Barrister Fordun,” Newton said to the prosecutor. “I
    dislike seeing unprotected young ladies in my courtroom.
    Th is had better be very good.”
    Th e man standing behind the opposite stand adjusted
    his new wig before standing, which gave Clark time to
    speak in his place.
    “If it pleases the court and the Crown,” Clark said
    quickly, “my client wishes to enter statements that will
    doubtless convince Your Honor to dismiss these charges.”
    “Oh, doubtless.” Newton eyed me. “Well, young miss?
    What have you to say for yourself?”
    I went to the stand and tried my best bewildered look
    on the magistrate. “Your Honor, I am being charged
    with practicing magic in my home, which is located in a
    residential area. I have never done so, and the evidence
    being brought forth to condemn me is police property.”
    “Naturally it is in their custody,” Fordun said. “Th ey
    confi scate any magic paraphernalia in such cases, so that
    it might be presented in evidence.”
    “No, sir,” I said. “Th e wardlings that were found
    nailed above the entry to my fl at are property that belong to the police, and were put there by a police warder. Th ey
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    LYNN VIEHL
    are not mine, nor is their display my doing.”
    “Is this warder present?” Newton snapped.
    “Her supervisor is, Your Honor,” I heard Doyle
    say behind me. “I am Chief Inspector Th omas Doyle,
    assigned to Rumsen Main. After Miss Kittredge was the
    victim of an unprovoked and brutal attack, I sent our staff
    warder to search and secure the young lady’s home, in the
    hope of preventing a second assault on her person.”
    Th e magistrate turned to Fordun. “What other
    evidence do you have to support these charges?”
    “Th is woman’s home has not yet been searched, Your
    Honor,” Fordun said quickly. “I am convinced that when
    it is, we will fi nd ample evidence of her crimes.”
    Newton sighed. “Inspector, you said your warder
    searched the young lady’s home. Did she fi nd anything
    unlawful?”
    “No, Your Honor,” Doyle said, “and she searched the
    premises quite thoroughly.”
    “It sounds to me as if someone is trying to use my
    court to attack this young lady again.” Th e magistrate
    handed the warrants back to his clerk. “Miss Kittredge,
    have you at any time