B-Berry and I Look Back by Dornford Yates Page A

rattled.’
    “‘He’s afraid of the verdict?’
    “‘Yes.’
    “This was natural enough. As I have said, cars were unpopular then, and verdicts of manslaughter were frequently returned. It didn’t follow, of course, that whoever was driving went down: but he had to stand his trial at the next Assizes. And if the case went wrong, he was sent to jail. And not for six months, either.
    “He gave me a few more facts and showed me the police report.
    “‘Well now,’ I said, ‘will you have the chauffeur in?’
    “He was a nice-looking fellow, aged, I think, thirty-five. His licence was clean, and we’ll say that his name was Blake.
    “The solicitor introduced us.
    “Then –
    “‘Blake,’ I said, ‘I’m here to look after you. And I’m going to do my best to get a verdict of accidental death. But I can’t do it, Blake, unless I have your help. And the only way you can help is by telling the absolute truth. Never mind if the truth is against you. I’ve got to convince the jury that you are an honest man. If I can do that, we’re home. But that is our only chance.’
    “‘Very good, sir,’ said Blake.
    “‘And now please tell me what happened from first to last.’
    “Well, he told me what I’ve told you. And he kept on saying, ‘He never gave me a chance.’
    “‘I know what you mean,’ I said: ‘but tell me what you mean in so many words.’
    “‘Well, I did all I could, sir, but he did nothing at all. If he’d turned sharp to his right, he might have had a spill, but he wouldn’t have hit the car.’
    “‘I quite understand,’ I said. ‘Was the road behind you clear?’
    “‘Nothing behind or in front, sir. No cars, I mean.’
    “‘And now tell me this. What speed were you going, when the accident occurred?’
    “‘Twenty miles an hour, sir,’ said Blake.
    “I knew he’d say that, of course. For twenty miles an hour was the speed limit then. (At least, I think it was. Any way, it was very low and was regularly ignored.) And everyone going over twenty was out of court. And I mean what I say. That was the end of his case.
    “‘Blake,’ I said, ‘you’re going to be asked that in court. And if you give that answer, you’ll get a verdict of manslaughter, sure as a gun. Why? Because they won’t believe you. I don’t believe you, myself. You were going twice that speed, and you know it as well as I.’
    “Blake put a hand to his head.
    “‘But I can’t say that, sir,’ he said: ‘because, if I do, I’ll just be cutting my throat. Anything over twenty’s against the law.’
    “‘We’re not in court now,’ I said. ‘Tell me here, in this room, what was your speed, when the cyclist hit the car.’
    “Blake looked over his shoulder. Then he took a deep breath.
    “‘About fifty, I’d say, sir. I never ’ad time to look. But–’
    “‘Why were you going so fast?’
    “‘Because I was tryin’ to clear him. I shoved my foot right down. But for the lamp-post, I think I might of done it. Not that I cared about that, but it checked my speed. I couldn’t avoid it, of course. They would put one just there.’
    “‘That’s a very good answer, Blake, and I want you to say it again. Why were you going so fast?’
    The chauffeur repeated his words.
    “‘Good. That is the answer you’re going to give in court. And, if you give it, Blake, I believe I can get a verdict of accidental death.’
    “‘But–’
    “‘Listen, Blake. If you give any other answer, I think you’ll go down. You see, that answer rings true …and it shows you were doing your utmost to save the cyclist’s life. You saw the lamp-post ahead, but you didn’t care about that.’
    “‘I was over the speed-limit, sir.’
    “‘I know you were. But why? Because you were doing your best to save a man’s life. And now let’s leave the matter. Tell me this. Was the cyclist moving fast?’
    “‘Come out like a flash, sir. As if he had the road to himself.’
    “‘I shouldn’t say that in