![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nineveh_ukThe usual disclaimers apply. Includes spoilers for the murder.
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
The jury had been out for three-quarters of an hour.
‘They’re going to bring her in guilty,’ said Parker.
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘They haven’t proved how she got the digitalis, or when she might have given it to him, or that she had any advance knowledge of the will.’
‘No.’
‘Perhaps the sentence will be commuted.’
‘Perhaps.’
The two young men sat in silence. Another hour passed.
‘Penberthy was a very plausible witness,’ Parker said bitterly.
‘That doesn’t always help,’ Wimsey pointed out. ‘Sometimes the jury takes against the plausible sort, if they feel they’re being led.’
‘Not in this case. I suppose I can’t blame the jury – I fell for it myself.’
‘You didn’t, you know,’ said Wimsey. ‘I mean, not for him exactly. You fell for the case against the girl. It’s true she isn’t a very allurin’ girl, and being down about her aunt’s death and thinkin’ the Fentimans were out to rob her she naturally didn’t come off well compared to a man whose training and profession is in conveying to people what they don’t want to hear and chargin’ ’em for the privilege.’
‘You needn’t rub it in; It’s all my fault and I don’t know anything about women.’
‘I didn’t say that,’ Wimsey protested. ‘Besides, you can’t do anything about it now, and there might be an appeal. Look at it this way; even if the worst should happen, you won’t make the same mistake again.’
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
The jury had been out for three-quarters of an hour.
‘They’re going to bring her in guilty,’ said Parker.
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘They haven’t proved how she got the digitalis, or when she might have given it to him, or that she had any advance knowledge of the will.’
‘No.’
‘Perhaps the sentence will be commuted.’
‘Perhaps.’
The two young men sat in silence. Another hour passed.
‘Penberthy was a very plausible witness,’ Parker said bitterly.
‘That doesn’t always help,’ Wimsey pointed out. ‘Sometimes the jury takes against the plausible sort, if they feel they’re being led.’
‘Not in this case. I suppose I can’t blame the jury – I fell for it myself.’
‘You didn’t, you know,’ said Wimsey. ‘I mean, not for him exactly. You fell for the case against the girl. It’s true she isn’t a very allurin’ girl, and being down about her aunt’s death and thinkin’ the Fentimans were out to rob her she naturally didn’t come off well compared to a man whose training and profession is in conveying to people what they don’t want to hear and chargin’ ’em for the privilege.’
‘You needn’t rub it in; It’s all my fault and I don’t know anything about women.’
‘I didn’t say that,’ Wimsey protested. ‘Besides, you can’t do anything about it now, and there might be an appeal. Look at it this way; even if the worst should happen, you won’t make the same mistake again.’