Page 24 of Triple Jeopardy (Daniel Pitt)

She stopped and then turned back, waiting for him to speak.

“I spoke out of turn also. Please do come again. Rebecca is very fond of you, and you seem to be able to pick up her spirits better than we can.”

“Thank you,” she said, “I will.” She left without speaking to Armitage again.

CHAPTER

Eight

“YES, SIR.” DANIEL stood in front of Marcus fford Croft’s desk.

Marcus stared at him benignly, his white hair surrounding his head like a halo, but there was no smile on his face. In fact, he

looked increasingly grave as Daniel waited for him to speak.

“Doing well,” Marcus said. “Ever since the Graves case. Proved your worth. Lot of good decisions…”

He seemed to be waiting for a response, so Daniel gave him one. “Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t thank me! Did it yourself. Now I want to see if you can keep it up. Not certain…”

Daniel was struck with a sudden chill. He drew breath to speak and changed his mind. This was a time when it would be wise to keep silent.

“Family loyalty,” Marcus went on. “Very important. Scylla and Charybdis, and all that. Don’t look so mystified, boy! The screaming monster in the rock called Scylla, and the ever-devouring vortex called Charybdis. Didn’t they teach you classics at Cambridge? What is the world coming to?”

Daniel knew the reference, but it didn’t help in the least.

“Loyalty to family!” Marcus said tartly. “Loyalty to friends, even when they make mistakes. And, God help us, we all do. Loyalty to your country, which makes even more mistakes. Loyalty to your belief, right or wrong. Which, if you have a brain and the courage to use it, will also be subject to radical review. If it isn’t, it is probably totally ossified. Turn to bone, in case your Latin didn’t go that far!”

“It does, sir!”

“Good. Then you will be equal to the test you’re about to face…”

Daniel felt his stomach sink. He was good at tests, usually, but he still hated them. And why now? It was not exactly an idle time.

“A matter of necessity,” Marcus went on. “Case may turn out to be more important than it looks. Of course, it also may not, but it is important for you…”

This time, Daniel did interrupt. “I’m on a case with Mr. Kitteridge, sir.”

“No, you’re not!”

“Sir, it is…” Daniel’s voice died away. Marcus was staring at him with a fixed look.

“I believe we can expect no fee for this work,” Marcus continued. “Mr. Kitteridge is taking on another, serious case for the Foreign Office. One for which he will be paid. Handsomely. You will take the defense of Philip Sidney yourself. I can give you a part-time clerk, if you feel you need assistance. But you are quite capable of conducting it by yourself. You may not think so, which is immaterial. I am head of chambers, and I do think so.”

“Sir…” Daniel protested, and then changed his mind.

“What? Not ready for it? Nonsense. Follow my advice and you’ll be fine!”

“Sir?” This time, Daniel did protest.

Marcus ignored him. “Don’t follow it, go against it, and it will be the ruin of you…I promise!”

Daniel could not have been more surprised than if Marcus had risen from his seat and slapped him.

Marcus grunted. “You will defend young Philip Sidney as if your career depended on it, because it does! It is your job to defend him for the crime with which he is charged, and to do it to the best of your ability, no matter what you think him guilty of. You owe loyalty to your family, your country, but you serve the law! That is your part in the scheme of things. And you will do it this time, or you will cease to have the opportunity to do it in the future! Do you understand me?”

Daniel was too appalled to find an answer.

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