8
‘Miss Next, I’m so sorry, I had to take a call. Portia again: she wanted to discuss the timing of her “drop of blood” defence. Bit of a feisty one, that Your hearing is next Thursday—so be prepared!’
9
‘That’s good, Thursday. Can I call you Thursday? Keep up that sort of wide-eyed innocent babe-in-the- woods stuff and we’ll have you off the hook quicker than you can say verruca.’
10
‘I’ll explain it all when we meet. Sorry to have to communicate with you in footnotes but I’m due in court in ten minutes. Don’t speak to
11
‘Thursday, for heaven’s sake, what have you done?!’
12
‘I told you not to talk to anyone about your case!’
13
‘How can I be expected to help you if you go and blab everything to the prosecution?’
14
‘Why, Hopkins, you idiot! You pretty much confessed there and then on your own doorstep. This is going to really screw things up for us. Don’t speak to
15
‘No time. I’ll speak to you before we go into court. Remember don’t talk to
16
‘Really? That is interesting news. Well, must dash Pip-pip.’
17
‘Miss Next? Havisham speaking!’
18
19
‘I am here, young lady, but I am shocked by your coarse language!’
20
‘Really? Well, I will not hear it from my apprentices. But I forgive you, I suppose. I need you to attend to me right now. Norland Park, Chapter 5, paragraph one—you’ll find it in the travel book Mrs Nakajima left for you.’
21
‘Loud and clear, whiskers pressed, fed and watered, boots on and laced, ready to—’
