felt, without real reason, that he would have disliked her. She would not have met his standards of how a lady should conduct herself. For a start, she had opinions, and Jerome did not look like a man who found opinions acceptable when they were not his own.
Perhaps that was unfair. She was leaping to conclusions with just the sort of prejudice she condemned in others. The poor man was accused of a crime not only violent but disgusting, and if he was found guilty he would lose his life. He was entitled to less than the best behavior. Jjideed, there must be some courage about him, for he was not screaming out or in hysteria. Maybe
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this icy calm was his way of controlling the inner terror. And who could claim to do it better, with more dignity?
There was no point in skirting the subject.
'Did you ever, at any time, have an indecent physical relationship with any of your pupils?'
Jerome's nostrils flared very slightly-the thought was distasteful.
'No, sir, I did not.'
'Can you imagine why Godfrey Waybourne should lie about such a thing?'
'No, I cannot. His imagination is warped-how or why I do not know.'
The additional comment did not further his cause. Any man asked such a question would deny it, yet the curling lip, the suggestion that somehow someone else was to blame engendered less sympathy than simple confusion would have done.
Giles tried again. 'And Titus Swynford? Could he have misunderstood some gesture, or some remark?'
'Possibly-although what gesture or remark, I cannot think. I teach academic subjects, things of culture and of the brain. I am not accountable for the moral atmosphere in the house. What they may have learned in other areas was not my responsibility. Gentlemen of a certain class, at that age, have money and opportunity to discover the ways of the world for themselves. I should think a rather fevered adolescent imagination, coupled with a little looking through keyholes, has conjured such stories. And people occasionally indulge in lewd conversation without realizing how much youths hear-and understand. I can offer no better explanation. It is otherwise to me both incomprehensible and disgusting!'
Land took a deep breath. 'So both boys are either lying or mistaken?'
'Since it is not the truth, that is the obvious conclusion,' Jerome replied.
Charlotte felt sympathy with him at last. He was being treated as if he were stupid, and although it was far from in his interest, it was understandable that he should want to retaliate. She would have stung under that patronage. But if only he
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would ease the sour look a little, or behave as if he sought mercy.
'Have you ever met a prostitute named Albie Frobisher?'
Jerome's chin came up.
'I have never, to my knowledge, met a prostitute by any name at all.'
'Have you ever been to Bluegate Fields?'
'No, there is nothing in that area that I should wish to see, and fortunately I have no business that requires me to go there, and most certainly no pleasure!'
'Albert Frobisher swears that you were a customer of his. Can you think of any reason why he should do so, if it is not true?'
'My education has been classical, sir-I have no knowledge whatever as to the mind or motives of prostitutes, male or female.'
There was a titter of unsympathetic laughter around the court, but it died almost instantly.
'And Abigail Winters?' Giles still struggled. 'She says that you took Arthur Wayboume to her establishment.'
'Possibly someone did,' Jerome agreed, a trace
