didn’t like the defending counsel. He’s murder.’
‘I’ll get that degenerate one day, if it’s the last thing I do.’
The court jailer, who’d heard how the case was going, was not quite so nice to Johnny. ‘Here’s your dinner,’ he said, handing him a paper bag.
‘I want no dinner.’
‘You’d better get into the habit of doing what you’re told, you know. It might come in handy after this evening.’
‘He’s being awkward,’ said the Brixton warder.
Theodora dragged Mr Zuss-Amor away from Montgomery into the private bar. ‘At this stage,’ she said, ‘can we call any further witnesses?’
‘We could if we had one who’s of any use … Why?’
‘I’ve been Johnny Fortune’s mistress.’
‘Go on!’
‘I saw him during the time they say he was with that woman, and gave him money, and looked after him.’
‘Yes …? Now look, Miss Pace, it’s nice of you to think of trying to help him. But can you expect me to believe that – let alone a jury?’
‘I’m pregnant by him.’
‘Oh. You are? No kidding?’
‘Oh, don’t be so stupid and familiar! I tell you I’ve seen the doctor!’
‘Have you!’
‘I love Johnny – can’t you understand? I want to marry him.’
‘You do?’ The solicitor shook his head dubiously. ‘And you’re prepared to swear all this in court – is that it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well … I’ll have to see Mr Vial and hear what he thinks.’
‘Hurry up, then.’
‘You’d better come with me. He’ll want to question you a bit.’
When the trial resumed, Mr Vial asked the judge’s permission to call another witness. ‘I apologise, my Lord, to you, and to my learned friend, for any apparent discourtesy to the court. The fact is that my witness, who is, as you will see, a person of irreproachable character and reputation, has felt hitherto a quite understandable reluctance to appear in a case of this description; but since the evidence she will give—’
‘Is this a woman, then?’ said the judge.
‘Indeed, my Lord.’
‘I see. Go on.’
‘Thank you, my Lord. Since, as I say, the evidence she will give, with your permission, will be of capital importance in establishing the innocence of the defendant beyond all possible doubt, she has felt it her duty – greatly, I may say, to her credit – to overcome any natural scruples and appear before the court.’
‘Have you anything to say, Mr Gillespie?’ asked the judge.
‘Not at this juncture, my Lord. I think any observations I may wish to make would best be kept until I have an opportunity of hearing this witness, and of cross-examination.’
‘Very well, Mr Vial.’
Theodora entered the box and took the oath. She looked firm, tranquil, dignified and womanly, though with a slight hint of the repentant sinner.
Mr Vial quickly established that her name was Theodora Huntington Pace, her age twenty-eight, her state a spinster, and her occupation that of Assistant Supervisor of Draft Planning at the BBC. She had known the defendant since the previous summer, when she first met him at an interview in connection with his participation in a series of radio programmes. ‘Please continue, Miss Pace,’ said Mr Vial.
‘I got to know Mr Fortune very well,’ she said, in steady, almost semi-official tones. ‘I grew to admire his qualities of character and intelligence, and soon became very fond of him.’
‘And this feeling of yours, Miss Pace. It was reciprocated?’
‘Yes,’ said Theodora. ‘I think it was.’
‘Please tell the court what happened then.’
Theodora slightly lowered her voice, and looked up steadily. ‘I became his mistress.’
‘I see. And then?’
‘I asked Mr Fortune to come and live with me, but he is very independent by nature, and preferred we should have separate establishments.’
‘And during the period that we have heard about in court this morning. You saw the defendant?’
‘Frequently.’
‘And is it not a fact that you were able to help him financially when this was necessary?’
‘I know Mr Fortune comes from a substantial business family in Nigeria, and that he would have no difficulty in calling on them for money if he needed it. He is, however, I’m sorry to say, something of a spendthrift …’ (she paused slightly) ‘… and on occasions when he was hard up I had no reluctance whatever in lending him whatever money he might want to tide him over.’
‘So that during the period in question, he was in no need of money?’
‘Why should he be? No. He had only to come to me.’
‘Thank you, Miss Pace.’
Mr Gillespie got up.
‘Miss Pace,’ he said. ‘In view of what you have told the court this afternoon, why did you not come forward this