Edward Kane, Advocate in A Promise is a Promise: Chapter 12

“Of course I knew that, sir. Do you take me for a fool?”
Edward Kane, Advocate in A Promise is a PromiseEdward Kane, Advocate in A Promise is a Promise
Edward Kane, Advocate in A Promise is a Promise

Parliament House. As Kane was getting dressed for court that morning, it struck him that one definition of the word “futility” might be: a court hearing that was not going to happen before a judge who did not want to hear it.

The solicitor, McAdam continued to bellow: “I do not see how this…this purported discovery is important to the case...”

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Kane took a deep breath: “That a gentleman should be induced to propose to a woman who has a secret - and illegitimate - eleven year-old son, Mr McAdam, I would think is obvious...”

“Oh – stuff and nonsense!” McAdam seemed to get redder and redder: “Just get us out of this confounded mess. Just see if you can avoid being landed with the expenses, sir. We’ve invested enough in that blasted girl.”

And now Kane was aware that someone was motioning over to him. Jim Sim, Advocate, still dressed in street attire, was waving his silver-topped cane to attract Kane’s attention. Kane walked over and joined him at the fireplace. Sim held up his hands: “Edward - do not be mistaken - I may be smiling, but I am not gloating...”

“I appreciate that, Jim.”

“I understand that your Rose has withered on the vine. Sorry, chum, but I did try to warn you about those old church papers. Now, Edward, I take it that you will be conceding the expenses of the case?”

Kane shook his head: “I’m afraid not.”

Sim raised his eyebrows: “A novel approach. You raise a case doomed to failure from the outset – and you expect the other side to pay for it? You do remember that it’s Lord Lambert today?” Kane gave a rueful nod. Sim shook his head and left to get gowned up.

Kane stood before the fire looking around the crowded Parliament Hall. His eyes alighted on old Mrs McAdam, who was sobbing into the mongrel sitting on her lap. Kane walked over. “Mrs McAdam?”

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The old lady looked up: “Oh, Mr Kane, the pity of it...” and immediately burst into tears again.

Kane spoke gently: “I suppose that this whole thing must have come as something of a shock to you, madam.”

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Mrs McAdam dabbed her eyes: “Oh, no, Mr Kane, we knew about it all along. I knew about Rose’s mother, Violet. She was a good woman, but weak. After her husband died, she required to take in lodgers. Some of those men were of abandoned character. And one night, one of them crept into Rose’s room and...and...”. The old lady burst into tears again.

Kane nodded: “I see...”

“It wasn’t Rose’s fault. She was a child of fifteen. They planned to pass off the child as Violet’s child. But then Violet got sick. She died on the Monday night. Rose told no-one and delivered the child - on her own - on the Tuesday morning. She told people that her mother had died giving birth.”

“But she must have told the priest, Old Father Flanagan the truth.”

“Oh, Mr Kane - Rose is a good girl. A good Catholic. She would never lie to a priest, sir.”

Kane experienced an odd tightness in his chest and he realised that he was suddenly feeling heart-sorry for young Rosemary Daisy. A child requiring to give birth to another child. And alone. Kane continued: “And that is why you are so solicitous of her, madam.”

The old lady looked away: “I never had a daughter, Mr Kane.”

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And then a shout from above as the case was called: “Rosemary Daisy Thomas versus Thomas Tack.”

*****

“Lord Lambert is not happy…”

The Clerk of Court was speaking to Kane and Sim in the courtroom. He had been instructed to have a preliminary “chat” with both Counsel. Apparently, his Lordship was feeling somewhat “indisposed” this morning and wished his time on the bench to be as brief as possible.

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“And so, Mr Kane, his lordship assumes that you will be conceding the expenses here, Mr Kane.”

Kane looked at his feet: “I’m afraid I cannot.”

The Clerk considered this for a moment then volunteered: “Did I mention, Mr Kane, that this morning, his lordship asked why there was a gang of workmen in the room using sledgehammers - and I required to inform his lordship that the sound so vexing him was, in fact, the ticking of the mantel clock?”

Kane said nothing. The Clerk strode away.

Enter the Macer, ceremonial mace over his shoulder. Then, Lord Lambert shuffling across the floor. The old judge bowed - and immediately clutched his temples with both hands, as if to stop his head from falling off. And then he sat - or to be more precise - collapsed into his chair. All present bowed in return and sat down. The old judge’s eyes were closed. He said nothing. To all intents and purposes he might have been asleep. But far from it. One eye began to open. And then the other. The total effect reminded Kane of a lizard on a hot rock. The judge, as if blinded by daylight, peered around as if to identify where he was at that moment. And then he looked down at Counsel. The lizard’s tongue licked its parched, malevolent lips: “Mr Kane?”

The Advocate stood up. But before Kane could open his mouth, the courtroom was filled with an almighty clattering. The sheer volume made the judge throw himself back into his chair and clutch his temples. And then, emerging from nowhere, two small dogs appeared and began running around in circles, round and round the clerk’s table. Yapping and yelping (loud) and barking (louder), the sound of the nails of their paws scrabbling as they scratched across the wooden floors.

The old judge - in an act of uncommon speed, given his fragile condition - jumped out of his chair and made for the door. Followed off by the Clerk, running now, shouting: “Court rise...”

Kane looked over at Jim Sim. Sim’s eyes were agog. The dogs headed for the exit. Kane recognised that one of them was a mongrel - and that animal had now been scooped up and held by old Mrs McAdam. And the other dog, a very small poodle, was now in the arms of another, younger, lady. A pretty lady with red hair. Kane looked more closely. It was Rosemary Daisy Thomas.

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