Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers Read Free Book Online

much patient and zealous attention. You are discharged, and you are entitled to be excused from all further jury service for twelve years.”
     
    Almost before the further formalities completed, and while the Judge’s robes still flared in the dark little doorway, Wimsey had scrambled down into the well of the court. He caught the defending counsel by the gown.
    “Biggy – well done! You’ve got another chance. Let me in on this and we’ll pull it off.”
    “You think so, Wimsey? I don’t mind confessing that we’ve done better than I ever expected.”
    “We’ll do better still next time. I say, Biggy, swear me in as a clerk or something. I want to interview her.”
    “Who, my client?”
    “Yes, I’ve got a hunch about this case. We’ve got to get her off, and I know it can be done.”
    “Well, come and see me tomorrow. I must go and speak to her now. I’ll be in my chambers at ten. Goodnight.”
    Wimsey darted off and rushed round to the side-door, from which the jury were emerging. Last of them all, her hat askew and her mackintosh dragged awkwardly round her shoulders, came the elderly spinster. Wimsey dashed up to her and seized her hand.
    “Miss Climpson!”
    “Oh, Lord Peter. Oh, dear! What a dreadful day it has been. Do you know, it was me that caused the trouble, mostly, though two of them most bravely backed me up, and oh, Lord Peter, I hope I haven’t done wrong, but I couldn’t, no I couldn’t in conscience say she had done it when I was sure she hadn’t, could I? Oh, oh, dear!”
    “You’re absolutely right. She didn’t do it, and thank God you stood up to them and gave her another chance. I’m going to prove she didn’t do it. And I’m going to take you out to dinner, and – I say, Miss Climpson!”
    “Yes?”
    “I hope you won’t mind, because I have’t shaved since this morning, but I’m going to take you round the next quiet corner and kiss you.”

CHAPTER IV
    The following day was a Sunday, but Sir Impey Biggs cancelled an engagement to play golf (with the less regret as it was pouring cats and dogs), and held an extraordinary council of war.
    “Well, now, Wimsey,” said the advocate, “what is your idea about this? May I introduce Mr. Crofts of Crofts & Cooper, solicitors for the defence.”
    “My idea is that Miss Vane didn’t do it,” said Wimsey. “I dare say that’s an idea which has already occurred to you, but with the weight of my great mind behind it, no doubt it strikes the imagination more forcibly.”
    Mr. Crofts, not being quite clear whether this was funny or fatuous, smiled deferentially.
    “Quite so,” said Sir Impey, “but I should be interested to know how many of the jury saw it in that light.”
    “Well, I can tell you that, at least, because I know one of them. One woman and half a woman and about three-quarters of a man.”
    “Meaning precisely?”
    “Well, the woman I know stuck out for it that Miss Vane wasn’t that sort of person. They bullied her a good deal, of course, because she couldn’t lay a finger on any real weakness in the chain of evidence, but she said the prisoner’s demeanor was part of the evidence and that she was entitled to take that into consideration. Fortunately, she is a tough, thin, elderly woman with a sound digestion and a militant High-Church conscience of remarkable staying-power, and her wind is excellent. She let ’em all gallop themselves dead, and then said she still didn’t believe it and wasn’t going to say she did.”
    “Very useful,” said Sir Impey. “A person who can believe all the articles of the Christian faith is not going to boggle over a trifle of adverse evidence. But we can never hope for a whole jury-box full of ecclesiastical diehards. How about the other woman and the man?”
    “Well, the woman was rather unexpected. She was the stout, prosperous party who keeps a sweet-shop. She said she didn’t think the case was proved, and that it was perfectly possible that Boyes had taken