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“I apologize, ht—”

“I know exactly what you were thinking, Mr Trelford Now please let Mrs Clifton be her own spokesman”

“At the end of your speech,” said Trelford, turning back to his client, “you took questions from the floor?”

“Yes, I did”

“And ainia Fenwick As the outcoe, I will, with your permission, my lady, read out to the court the words spoken by Mrs Clifton that are the cause of this trial In reply to a question fro the coinia,… then you have failed, and failed lamentably, because you were defeated by decent ordinary people ant this coain in the cold light of day, Mrs Clifton, do you regret them?”

“Certainly not They were nothing more than a statement of fact”

“Then it was never your intention to defainia?”

“Far from it I simply wanted the shareholders to know that Major Fisher, her representative on the board, had been buying and selling the co ues”

“Quite so Thank you, Mrs Clifton No more questions, my lady”

“Do you wish to cross-examine this witness, Sir Edward?” asked Mrs Justice Lane, well aware of what his ansould be

“Islowly fro He checked his first question before leaning back and giving the jury his most avuncular smile, in the hope that they would look upon him as a respected family friend from whom everyone seeks advice

“Mrs Clifton,” he said, turning to face the witness box, “let’s not iniayour brother from the moment you met In fact, isn’t it the case that you’d made up your mind to dislike her even before you’d met?”

Trelford was surprised He hadn’t thought Eddie would plunge the dagger in quite so quickly, although he had warned E to be a pleasant experience

“As I said, Sir Edward, ere not natural friends”

“But isn’t it the case that you set out from the start to make her an enemy?”