Brothers In Law by Henry Cecil Page A

clerk’s room before she saw Grimeyboy.’
    â€˜What’s it about?’
    â€˜Well – it’s a claim for money lent. To judge from the letters, Mrs Biggs and Mr Pieman used to see more of one another than they ought to have done – seeing that there was a Mr Biggs. Well, Pieman apparently needed money to start him on his political career and Mrs B provided it. How much of it was Mr B’s I don’t know. Later on when the good ship Pieman was firmly launched he broke it off with Mrs B. She was very angry and asked for her money back. He wouldn’t pay. So she sued him. He says it’s a gift.’
    â€˜When is it coming on for trial?’
    â€˜I tell you, it isn’t. Mr B doesn’t know anything about it, but if it came into Court he soon would. There are things in those letters most husbands wouldn’t approve of. You read them. They’re grand fun. She wanted to know if the action could be heard in camera . Of course it couldn’t. So it’s only a question of who’ll give in first. Wouldn’t do Pieman any good for his constituency to know that he’d been financed by another man’s wife. Wouldn’t do her any good for her husband to know she’s been so very kind to Mr P. Now, what else is there?’
    Peter looked casually at the briefs lying on the table. He picked up one, opened it and read a little, put it back in its red tape and sighed.
    â€˜How can anyone be expected to get up any enthusiasm for drawing pins? Consignments of drawing pins. I ask you.’
    He picked up another set of papers.
    â€˜This isn’t much better,’ he said. ‘It’s about wallpaper. I wish he’d have a breach of promise or an enticement action. He hardly ever does a divorce case. Had one the other day, though. Not bad at all. Cruelty case.’
    He paused for a moment, trying to recollect some of the more lurid details.
    â€˜D’you know, he used to tie her up to a chair and then make faces at her. Now, what would he get out of that?’
    â€˜I can’t think,’ said Roger, but he said it in a tone which caused Peter to say: ‘Sorry, old boy. Don’t want to interrupt. Think I’ll go down to the Old Bailey. Where’s Charles?’
    â€˜I haven’t seen him this morning.’
    â€˜Oh, of course. He’s got a judgment summons somewhere.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜Oh – a summons for debt, you know. I’m not quite sure actually, but you get an Order sending them to prison if they don’t pay, or something.’
    â€˜I thought that was abolished years ago.’
    â€˜So did I, old boy, but it’s something like that. You ask Henry. He knows all the answers. Pity he’s got no guts. Might have done well. Well, so long, old boy. May not see you again till tomorrow. Depends what they’ve on at the Old Bailey. I’ll take my robes. Might get a docker.’
    â€˜A what?’
    â€˜Dock brief. You know, surely. I did before I was called. Any prisoner who’s got a couple of guineas and the clerk’s fee can choose any counsel sitting in Court. So if you just go and sit there you may get a brief. Look hard at the prisoner and hope you hypnotize him into choosing you. Henry’s got a good story about dock briefs.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜Well, I might as well tell you first. Don’t often get in in front of Henry. Well, there was an old lag down at the Bailey. He’d been there dozens of times, knew the ropes. Well, he was up one day for something and decided he’d like to have counsel to defend him. So he brought out his money and they took him up into the dock before the Recorder.
    â€˜â€œCan I have a dock brief, please, my Lord?” he asked, very politely.
    â€˜â€œHas he two pounds four shillings and sixpence?” asked the Recorder. The clerk informed the Recorder that the money was