His Lordship Possessed Read Online Free PDF Page B

practiced magic in your home?”
    “No, Your Honor—”
    “I have a statement to the contrary given by a titled
    gentleman,” the prosecutor said. “He was most emphatic
    about her criminal behavior.”
    “I suppose he personally witnessed her committing
    these crimes?” Newton asked with exaggerated patience.
    “Th e gentleman in question is a pillar of the fi nancial
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    community, Your Honor,” Fordun assured him. “His
    assurance of her character is certainly good enough for
    me.”Th e magistrate looked out. “Is there anyone else
    present who has knowledge of this young lady’s
    character?”
    “I do, Your Honor.” Th at was Fourth, and he cleared
    his throat twice before continuing. “I have enjoyed the
    privilege of being acquainted with Miss Kittredge as a
    business associate for several years.”
    “Business? What’s this?” Newton looked over the rim
    of his glasses. “She’s a working gel?”
    “Indeed she is, sir,” Fourth said. “She keeps an
    offi ce downtown in the Davies Building, where I am
    also employed. In all the years I have known her, Miss
    Kittredge has never once practiced any form of magic.
    She does not believe in it.”
    “I challenge this testimony,” Fordun said at once.
    “Mr. Jones, summon the court detector,” Newton said.
    I turned to Clark and whispered, “What’s a detector?”
    “Useless,” he murmured back. “Coin holes, the lot of
    them, but old magis like Newton think they’re infallible.”
    A few minutes later an elderly man in a plain dark
    green robe was led into the courtroom. Milky cataracts
    occluded his eyes, and he appeared to be completely
    dependent on the clerk guiding him up toward the bench,
    for when the clerk stopped, so did the detector.
    “Magistrate,” the old man said in a surprisingly strong
    voice. “How may I serve the court?”
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    LYNN VIEHL
    Newton gestured for Fourth to join the old man, and
    the clerk guiding the detector turned him to face him.
    “Hold out your hands, palms up,” the clerk told
    Fourth. “Stand still and do not speak unless you are
    spoken to.”
    Fourth did as he was instructed, and the old man
    rested his fi ngers over both palms. “You are the witness
    whose testimony has been challenged.”
    Fourth swallowed. “I am, sir.”
    “Hmmm.” Th e detector moved his fi ngertips over the
    palms under them. “Why are you here, young man?”
    Fourth glanced at me. “To help a friend who has been
    unjustly persecuted, sir. Th at is all.”
    “Not all.” His wrinkled brow furrowed.
    “Something . . .” He slowly turned his head toward me,
    although it was obvious from the vacancy of his eyes that
    he was stone-blind.
    “Well?” the prosecutor demanded, his tone impatient.
    “Is the boy lying to protect this female?”
    “No.” Th e old man turned back toward Newton. “Th is
    young man speaks the truth, Magistrate. His testimony
    may be accepted as such.”
    Fordun seemed to explode. “I challenge the use of this
    detector, Your Honor. He is clearly unable to discern the
    falsehoods being presented by this boy. I demand to bring
    forth my own detector, who will refute his fi ndings.”
    “Th at one,” the detector said as he nodded at the
    prosecutor, “is your liar, Magistrate. I needn’t touch him
    to ferret that out.”
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    Newton sighed. “Sit down, Mr. Fordun.”
    “I am not on trial,” Fordun snapped. His voice rose
    to a near-bellow as he addressed the magistrate. “Your
    Honor, I vigorously insist you—”
    “In my court, sir, you insist on nothing,” Newton
    shouted over him. “Now take your seat and stay your
    tongue, or I’ll have you charged with contempt and
    hauled out of here in shackles.”
    Fortunately for Fordun, he appeared so furious as to
    be rendered