rather quickly if I were to recommend regardless. They come home to roost, you know!'
'Home to roost?' Giles was momentarily confused. 135
'Recommendations, Mr. Giles. People seldom remember the good advice you give them-they always take the credit themselves. But let them take your bad advice and they will instantly recall that it was not their own idea but yours that was to blame. Not only that, but they will make sure everyone else is made aware of it, too.
'May we take it, then, that you did not recommend Maurice Jerome without some considerable inquiry into his qualifications-and his character?'
'You may. His qualifications were excellent. His character was not especially pleasing, but then I was not intending to make a social acquaintance of him. His morality was impeccable, so far as it was discussed at all. One doesn't mention such things, you know, when talking of tutors. Underhousemaids one has to inquire into-or, rather, one has the housekeeper do it. But a tutor one expects to be satisfactory unless stated otherwise. In which case, of course, one doesn't employ him in the first place. Jerome was a little stuffy, if anything-rather a prig. Oh-and a teetotaler. He's the sort that would be.'
Vanderly smiled a little tightly.
'Married to a pleasant woman,' he went on. 'Inquired into her reputation. Spotless.'
'No children?' Now Land took over, attempting to shake him. He pressed the point, as if it had some meaning.
'Don't think so. Why?' Vanderley's eyebrows went up innocently.
'Possibly indicative.' Land was not prepared to commit himself to something that might mar his case by being considered prejudicial. And of course he might also offend many others, dangerous others. 'We are dealing with a man of most peculiar tastes!'
'Nothing peculiar about Mrs. Jerome,' Vanderley answered, his eyes still wide. 'At least not that I could see. Looked like an average sort of woman to me-quiet, sober, well mannered, pretty enough.'
'But no children!'
'For heaven's sake, man, I only met her twice!' Vanderley sounded surprised and a little irritated. 'I'm not her doctor! Thousands of people don't have children. Do you expect me to
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be able to account for the domestic lives of everyone else's servants? All I did was inquire as to the man's scholastic abilities and his suitable character. Both appeared to be excellent. What more do you want me to say?'
'Nothing, Mr. Vanderley. You may go.' Land sat down, recognizing defeat.
Giles had nothing to put in re-examination, and Vanderley, with a faint sigh, found himself a seat in the body of the court.
Maurice Jerome was the last witness to be called in his own defense. As he walked from the dock to the stand, Charlotte realized with surprise that she had not yet heard him speak. Everything had been said about him; it was all other people's opinions, other people's words, their recollections of events. For the first time, Jerome would be real-a moving, feeling creature, not a two-dimensional picture of a man.
Like all the others, he began with the oath and identification. Giles worked hard to present him in a sympathetic light. It was all he had: the chance somehow to create the feeling in the jury that this man in reality was a far different person from the one the prosecution had drawn; he was ordinary, decent, everyday-like one of themselves-and could not have been guilty of such obscene offenses.
Jerome stared back at him with a cold, pursed face.
Yes, he answered, he had been employed for approximately four years as tutor to Arthur and Godfrey Waybourne. Yes, he taught them in all academic subjects, and on occasion a little sports as well. No, he did not favor one boy above the other; his tone expressed disdain for such unprofessional conduct.
Already Charlotte found him hard to like. She
