instantly.
The noise of uninvolved chatter ceased when Mr. Justice Hackett made his entrance. He ambled across to the three chairs on the center of the stage, attempting to give an impression that nothing untoward was about to take place in the court that morning.
Having amply filled the center chair, he spent longer than usual arranging his pens and checking his notebook while he waited for the jury to take their places.
'Good morning,' he said once they had settled, the tone of his voice rather avuncular. 'Members of the jury, the first witness today will be Mr. Spencer Craig QC. You will recall his name being raised during the cross- examination of Sir Hugo Moncrieff. Mr. Craig does not appear as a witness for either the prosecution or the defense, but has been subpoenaed to attend this court, meaning that he does not do so willingly. You must remember that your only duty is to decide if the evidence Mr. Craig presents has any bearing on the case being tried in this court, namely, did the defendant unlawfully escape from custody? On that count, and that count alone, you will be asked to deliver your verdict.'
Mr. Justice Hackett beamed down at the jury before turning his attention to junior counsel. 'Sir Matthew,' he said, 'are you ready to call the witness?'
Matthew Redmayne rose slowly from his place. 'I am indeed, my lord,' he responded, but did not do so. He poured himself a glass of water, then placed a pair of spectacles on the end of his nose, and finally opened his red leather folder. Having satisfied himself that he was ready for the encounter, he said, 'I call Mr. Spencer Craig,' his words sounding like a death knell.
A policeman stepped out into the corridor and bellowed, 'Mr. Spencer Craig!'
Everyone's attention was now focused on the courtroom door as they awaited the entrance of the final witness. A moment later, Spencer Craig, dressed in his legal garb, strode into the courtroom as if it was just another day in the life of a busy advocate.
Craig stepped into the witness box, picked up the Bible and, facing the jury, delivered the oath in a firm and confident manner. He knew that it was they, and they alone, who would decide his fate. He handed the Bible back to the usher, and turned to face Sir Matthew.
'Mr. Craig,' Sir Matthew began in a quiet, lulling tone, as if it was his desire to assist the witness in every possible way. 'Would you be kind enough to state your name and address for the record?'
'Spencer Craig, forty-three Hambledon Terrace, London SW3.'
'And your occupation?'
'I am a barrister at law and a Queen's Counsel.'
'So there is no need for me to remind such an eminent member of the legal profession of the significance of the oath, or the authority of this court.'
'No need at all, Sir Matthew,' replied Craig, 'although you appear to have done so.'
'Mr. Craig, when did you first discover that Sir Nicholas Moncrieff was in fact Mr. Daniel Cartwright?'
'A friend of mine who had been at school with Sir Nicholas bumped into him at the Dorchester Hotel. He soon realized that the man was an impostor.'
Alex placed a tick in the first box. Craig had clearly anticipated his father's first question, and delivered a well- prepared answer.
'And why should this friend decide to inform
'He didn't, Sir Matthew; it simply arose in conversation over dinner one night.'
Another tick.
'Then what was it that caused you to take a gigantic leap in the dark and come to the conclusion that the man posing as Sir Nicholas Moncrieff was in fact Daniel Cartwright?'
'I didn't for some time,' said Craig, 'not until I was introduced to the supposed Sir Nicholas at the theater one evening and was shocked by the similarity in looks, if not in manner, between him and Cartwright.'
'Was that the moment when you decided to contact Chief Inspector Fuller and alert him to your misgivings?'
'No. I felt that would have been irresponsible, so I first made contact with a member of the Moncrieff family in case, as you have suggested, I was taking a gigantic leap in the dark.'
Alex placed another tick on the list of questions. So far, his father hadn't laid a glove on Craig.
'Which member of the family did you contact?' asked Sir Matthew, knowing only too well.
'Mr. Hugo Moncrieff, Sir Nicholas's uncle, who informed me that his nephew had not been in touch with him since the day he'd been released from prison some two years before, which only added to my suspicions.'
'Was that when you reported those suspicions to Chief Inspector Fuller?'
'No, I still felt I needed more concrete evidence.'
'But the chief inspector could have relieved you of that burden, Mr. Craig. I am at a loss to understand why a busy professional gentleman like yourself chose to remain involved?'
'As I've already explained, Sir Matthew, I felt it was my responsibility to make sure that I wasn't wasting the police's time.'
'How very public-spirited of you.' Craig ignored Sir Matthew's barbed comment, and smiled at the jury. 'But I'm bound to ask,' added Sir Matthew, 'who it was that alerted you to the possible advantages of being able to prove that the man posing as Sir Nicholas Moncrieff was in fact an impostor?'
'The advantages?'
'Yes, the advantages, Mr. Craig.'
'I'm not sure I follow you,' said Craig. Alex placed the first cross on his list. The witness was clearly playing for time.
'Then allow me to assist you,' said Sir Matthew. He put out his right hand and Alex handed him a single sheet of paper. Sir Matthew ran his eye slowly down the page, giving Craig time to wonder just what bombshells it could possibly contain.
'Would I be right in suggesting, Mr. Craig,' said Sir Matthew, 'that if you were able to prove that it was Nicholas Moncrieff and not Danny Cartwright who committed suicide while in Belmarsh prison, Mr. Hugo Moncrieff would not only inherit the family title, but a vast fortune to go with it.'
'I was not aware of that at the time,' said Craig, not flinching.
'So you were acting with entirely altruistic motives?'
'Yes, I was, sir, as well as the desire to see a dangerous and violent criminal locked up.'
'I will be coming to the dangerous and violent criminal who should be locked up in a moment, Mr. Craig, but before then, allow me to ask you when your acute sense of public service was overcome by the possibility of making a quick buck?'
'Sir Matthew,' interrupted the judge, 'that is hardly the sort of language I expect from junior counsel when addressing a QC.'
'I apologize, m'lord. I will rephrase my question. Mr. Craig, when did you first become aware of the chance of making several million pounds from a piece of information you had picked up from a friend over dinner?'
'When Sir Hugo invited me to act on his behalf in a private capacity.'
Alex placed another tick against another anticipated question, although he knew Craig was lying.
'Mr. Craig, do you consider it ethical for a QC to charge twenty-five percent of a man's inheritance in exchange for a piece of second-hand information?'
'It is now quite common, Sir Matthew, for barristers to be paid on results,' said Craig calmly. 'I realize the practice has only been introduced since your day, so perhaps I should point out that I did not charge a fee or any expenses, and that had my suspicions been proved wrong I would have wasted a considerable amount of my time and money.'
Sir Matthew smiled at him. 'Then you will be delighted to learn, Mr. Craig, that the altruistic side of your nature has won the day.' Craig didn't rise to Sir Matthew's barb, although he was desperate to find out what he meant by it. Sir Matthew took his time before he added, 'As you may be aware, the court has recently been informed by Mr. Fraser Munro, the late Sir Nicholas Moncrieff's solicitor, that his client bequeathed his entire estate to his close friend Mr. Danny Cartwright. So you have, as you feared might be the case, wasted a considerable amount of your time and money. But despite my client's good fortune, let me assure you, Mr. Craig, that I shall not be charging
