Chapter Thirteen

Consultation

 

‘Well, George,’ said Mr Merivale when he was back in his office ‘that’s settled. The young man took it very well.’

‘So should I take it very well,’ said George, ‘if someone told me I was going to be paid two or three times as much for doing nothing. Who are you going to have?’

‘Plaistowe, I think,’ said Mr Merivale, ‘if he can take it.’

‘And what’s that going to cost you?’

‘I don’t know and I don’t care. When you’re an old man like me, you may find other ways of getting pleasure, though to look at you, George, one would think that you’ll be looking for something as unpleasant as possible, but I know what I like and if I can pay for it, why shouldn’t I have it?’

‘I don’t like to see money chucked away, sir. Plaistowe will want at least thirty. That means you’ll have to pay that bright young specimen of yours twenty, sir. Really, sir, it goes against the grain to give him anything at all – but twenty really is the limit. Why, we could have got any of the best juniors at the Divorce Bar to do it for fifteen at the most, sir.’

‘I sometimes wonder why you trouble to call me “sir,” George. It normally is a sign of respect which I find in your case is lamentably lacking. I won’t say that’s always been so. Forty years ago you used to behave yourself quite well. You were a little frightened of me, I think. But now all you say to yourself is – “the old fool won’t be here much longer, doesn’t much matter what I do say. Anyway, I’m much too much use to the firm for them to fire me. I’m part of the furniture – which is solid, meant to last, and ugly.”’

‘I’ve the greatest respect for you, sir, but I hate to see you making a fool of yourself.’

‘Well, I’m not. If I choose to spend fifty pounds or whatever it is on giving my niece a bracelet I can do so without asking you, can’t I? Well, that’s all I’m doing. Only she’ll like this much more than a bracelet. Now don’t let’s have any more nonsense about it. Fix up a consultation with Plaistowe as soon as we know he can take it. I should say you’d better not have the client there in the first instance. He can see her later if he wants to. You’d better attend it as you saw what happened in Court.’

‘I did indeed, sir,’ said George. ‘I shall have great pleasure in telling Mr Plaistowe all about it.’

‘Now, George, you’re to behave yourself. It’s not young Thursby’s fault. It’s mine, if you like. Well, you’ve taken it out of me, don’t try to take it out of him too. Come to think of it, I’ll come with you to see fair play. I’m not going to have him bully-ragged. Joy would be very cross indeed and she’d be fully justified.’

‘P’raps you’d like to go by yourself, sir,’ said George.

‘Now, George, don’t sulk. Of course you must be there to put Plaistowe in the picture. I’m only coming to see that you don’t make it too lurid.’

‘As you please, sir,’ said George. ‘I’m only an unadmitted managing clerk and I know my place.’

‘Whose fault is it you’re not a partner? You could have had your articles years ago.’

‘I knew my place then and I know it now. I don’t believe in all this partner business. My job’s a managing clerk, I know it and I can do it, and that’s how it’s going to stay.’

‘By all means, George, but as that’s how you want it, don’t grizzle.’

A few days later a consultation was arranged with Plaistowe, a busy common law silk who did a certain amount of divorce work and was known to be exceptionally able. His fees were extremely moderate for a man of his ability and in consequence he was very much in demand. Before the consultation began Plaistowe asked to see Roger. They shook hands.

‘How are you, my dear chap? I don’t think we’ve met before. You’re in Grimes’ chambers, I believe?’

‘I’m his pupil, as a matter of fact,’ said Roger. ‘I’ve only been there just over a week.’

‘Got away to a flying start, eh? Good for you. I thought I’d just have a word with you about this before we saw the clients. I gather the lady’s not here today. But she’s given all her evidence – unless we want something more out of her – so that’s all to the good. I gather we don’t care for her very much.’

‘No,’ said Roger.

They talked about the case for a short time and then Mr Merivale and Mr Smith were shown in.

‘How are you, Mr Merivale? It’s a long time since we met. Not since I took silk, I believe.’

‘Ah, I don’t very often come to the Temple nowadays, Mr Plaistowe, but in this case Mr Smith – whom, of course, you know, particularly wanted me to come. So, as I have to do what I’m told, here I am and very pleased to see you again.’

Plaistowe shook hands with Mr Smith and they all sat down.

‘I gather our client’s a bit of a so-and-so,’ said Plaistowe. ‘D’you think the judge believed her?’ Plaistowe looked first at Roger and then at Mr Smith. Roger cleared his throat.

‘I think probably Mr Smith will know that better than me – with all his experience.’

Mr Merivale looked at Mr Smith with something of an air of triumph, which seemed to say, ‘Not quite such a fool as you thought, eh, George?’

‘He won’t believe her where he can help it, sir,’ said Mr Smith. ‘But I don’t think he’s going to down us on that. He doesn’t like the nearness of the adultery to the desertion, and he’s not satisfied that the mere fact that the husband didn’t know is enough. Would you agree with me, sir?’ and he turned to Roger.

‘It sounded rather like it,’ said Roger.

‘Well, do we want any more evidence from our client? What d’you say, Mr Merivale?’ asked Plaistowe.

‘I think you’d better put that to Mr Smith. I’m really only here as I’ve said because he asked me to come. I don’t really know much about it, except that your learned junior has so far done admirably, as Mr Smith will confirm.’

Plaistowe caught Mr Smith’s eye and quickly said: ‘I’m quite sure he will. Well, what d’you say, Mr Smith? Is there any point in trying to get any more out of our client?’

‘Quite candidly,’ said Mr Smith, ‘the less we see of that lady in the witness box – or indeed anywhere else – the better. He caught her out in a thumping lie and although he hasn’t said anything about it at the moment, knowing Judge Ryman, I’m pretty sure it’s in safe keeping.’

‘Then you think just argue the point of law that there must be desertion if there’s no knowledge of the adultery?’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Mr Smith, ‘that’s my opinion, but, of course, Mr Thursby here may have different views. From what I gathered during his address to the judge, as far as I was able–’

‘Yes, Mr Thursby,’ interrupted Mr Merivale, ‘and what is your opinion? My recollection is that, when I saw you in chambers, you were of precisely the same opinion as Mr Smith has just expressed, though Mr Smith won’t mind my saying that I thought you put it rather better.’

‘I wouldn’t say that at all,’ said Roger, ‘but for what it is worth, that is my opinion.’

‘I’m glad you confirm Mr Smith’s view,’ said Mr Merivale. ‘It’s always satisfactory to the lowly solicitor when counsel agrees with him. Alas, it is not so often, I fear.’

‘You’re too modest,’ said Plaistowe. ‘I nearly always agree with solicitors – when they’re right.’