John had recovered his native sense of resolution in immediately seeking out Monty in his chambers. His sense of urgency was propelled by his desire to ensure Monty's cooperation at the earliest possible time for his own peace of mind. He dared not think of failure.
He knocked politely on Monty's door and saw that Monty was busy studying a set of trial papers.
"Ah, John, what brings you to see me"
"I have something of a delicate matter on which I wish to seek your advice on an idea I had but perhaps I am calling at an inconvenient time"
"Take a seat, John. I've about finished anyway and you have roused my curiosity. Cup of tea"
John realized that he had struck the right note. While he had a pretty clear idea as to the way forward, in truth, the novel possibility of him working in tandem with Monty needed Monty's input as well. He would have to learn restraint and diplomacy, qualities which did not immediately come to mind to his circle of acquaintances.
"You are aware, no doubt, of the impending trial of Barbara Mills who was once a member of our orchestra"
"Dashed perplexing the whole case is, John." Monty confided." Even a fairly casual observer like me could tell that she and the vicar were a very happily married close couple who were destined to live out their days together. I just don't understand what happened"
"The whole matter was a considerable shock to me, Monty."
There was a pause in the conversation while Monty contemplated the case. Monty prided himself in knowing a criminal when he saw one but Barbara? He freely confessed that he could not in his wildest imaginings, imagine that this mild mannered woman was a cold-hearted killer, least of all in respect of the very kindly vicar. Both of them had spirit, character. Vera had irritated him even more than usual wittering on about 'it's the quiet ones you have to watch' and that 'she knew there was something wrong, the moment she first saw her' but that sounded more of a case of sour grapes of being ousted from the orchestra. If Neil Houghton had been found dead of alcoholic poisoning, he had no doubt that Vera would have trumpeted George's obvious guilt to all and sundry and would have had an even more transparent motive. He was less on speaking terms with Vera than normal and that was not saying much. He stared generally at the far distance of his chambers and gradually turned his head and looked sharply at John. Because, not despite of his impassive expression, he could see at a jump where the casual drift of conversation was heading.
"If I know you, John, you are considering making a foolish, wrong headed plot to wrest the case for yourself so that, with your inflated perception of justice, you could set her free," Monty rumbled, fixing John with a stern stare.
"You are partly mistaken on the matter. Let me explain"
"Please do."
John paused a second while he marshaled his thoughts into cold logical order. This multiple facility in thinking, almost a split personality, was an essential tool of his trade without which he could not function.
"The extreme difficulty of the case is that all the brethren are acquainted not only with the deceased but the accused as well. This is a situation which I confess is new to my experience"
"Me too"
"I freely confess that if the case were offered to me to try, I would have severe misgivings in taking the case on. I would be hard put to it to trust myself to retain an objective, detached, and rational approach and, what is worse, that I would not be unconsciously affected by such feelings. My approach is significantly different from the brethren as I am more inclined to get passionate, rightly or wrongly, about seeking out the truth and administering justice. Whether I go about it in the wrong way is a matter for even handed debate. What I can do is to put my hand on my heart that such feelings are, in a way, abstract. It is a very different kettle of fish in dealing with someone who I know personally outside my profession. Such natural feelings of friendship are apt to collide with the demands of our profession, which has to be, of necessity, cold blooded. You understand my line of reasoning, Monty"
Monty breathed in an out as he grappled with the unexpected line of reasoning that was coming at him. He had always known that the fellow was very persuasive, silver tongued but he had to admit that he had set out the problem very clearly. But from what direction was John's next cleverly pitched googly going to spin in on him?
"Perfectly, John"
"You would concede that what is true for me will be true for every judge in the land. Despite my somewhat maverick approach, we all come from the same professional grounding. Could you think of any one judge that could be entrusted to try the case"
"I must confess, there you put your finger on the problem but, dammit, a case like this should not be untriable? You are not seriously suggesting such a solution? It would be unthinkable. If our connections with both parties came out, the press would have a field day. We would be utterly exposed to public condemnation, not to mention the 'hang them and flog them' politicians and their like"
By which, Monty includes his less than beloved wife. The man has more spirit than I had thought.
"No such idea had crossed my mind. Regrettably but inevitably, Mrs. Mills must face open trial and all that entails." Came John's deliberately dry and formal response.
"Then what is the solution?" Monty growled in frustration, feeling enmeshed by the negatives and impossibles that surrounded him.
"I was going to sound you out on the possibility that not one judge try the case but two"
"You mean"
"Precisely"
Monty's feelings were mixed. The idea was bold and attractive but the prospect of him and John jointly trying a case made him nervous. He had never sat with him before and felt that they would be at each other's throats in seconds. Besides, he was used to running his own trials and his boundaries would be encroached upon.
"I do not conceal from you that there are very real risks in my proposals. It would mean that one of us would be the judge and the other a winger but it would give equal scope for deliberations behind the scenes and would require both of us to have to work in a spirit of harmony and consideration of the other. Both of us are proud, independent individuals. It goes with the job. But saying all this, I am freely offering to curtail my somewhat individualist tendencies. I have to because without some sort of give and take, such an arrangement is doomed to failure from the outset. But consider the advantages. You must have, like me, been in situations where you are uncertain how to proceed. In a situation like this, each can freely take the other person's council. Given will on both sides, two heads are better than one"
Monty paused again for reflection. The arguments were persuasive and john was not underestimating the potential problems and was making a clear and open promise. He had to admit that he had never known John to go back on his word.
"But why me, John"
"Because you are my senior and because you have qualities which I sense will balance out mine"
"And my presence would be politically acceptable to Sir Ian and the rest of the powers that be, isn't that right, John"
John nodded. He had to concede that point. Monty was as much in the establishment's good books as he was in their bad books. That was part of his calculation.
"What is Sir Ian's and, for that matter, Lawrence James's attitude to the trial. We all played in the same orchestra, after all"
"Quite frankly, they are embarrassed. They have buried their head in the sands hoping the problem will go away. Their latest plan is to let a judge way out in the provinces deal with the matter and pack off Barbara to the nearest prison. Rather shabby treatment, I call it"
John was touched by Monty's sentiments. It boded well for the future.
"Can an approach be made to Sir Ian of our alternative plan, Monty"
"Leave it to me, John. Now I think of it, it is the ideal solution for all parties concerned"
Monty positively enthused.
"Just one very delicate position, who is to be judge and who is to be winger, if you don't mind me asking"
"The procedures are clear," rumbled Monty." As your senior, I should be winger. You take the case. You really wanted the case from the first, didn't you John, despite your uncharacteristic show of indifference"
John smiled widely at Monty's joking, fairly perceptive thrust and nodded in agreement. He could sense John's desire to get at the case in short order once his own dilemmas were resolved. It was a fair trade after all as Monty felt less than confident heading the trial and was worried about riding for a fall. It was the sure fire personal solution as John's presence was the perfect guarantee against Vera being present for the trial.
"One word of advice, John," Monty cautioned. "I can sense that you may get more personally involved in the case for your own good. It will do justice as a whole no good if you do. You must retain a certain element of detachment and play a straight bat"
"That is what I am relying on you to help me with amongst other reasons. With the way I feel right now, about everything in general, I really don't think I could do it on my own. Thanks, Monty"
Monty detected a slight tremor in John's voice. The fellow really means it.
"Right. I'd better go over and see Sir Ian and square the matter with him. I'll phone you at your digs"
John briefly touched Monty on the shoulder and departed. He felt as if his spirits had been lightened. His driving need was to get back to the safety and security of the digs and contemplate his future.
"How the devil did Deed get wind of our plans?
Lawrence James shrugged his shoulders. He had a suspicion of what had happened but did not want to be the chief whipping boy. Sir Ian had a nasty tendency to pick him out as the fall guy because he was conveniently to hand. He deeply resented John because, when Sir Ian taxed him on a similar matter, he just laughed in Sir Ian's face and cheekily told him that in a culture of spying and reporting on, he shouldn't be surprised if he, in turn should be was spied on and reported on. He had remembered receiving the brunt of Sir Ian's anger after John had nonchalantly lounged his way out of the door. At all costs, therefore, it was more prudent to let Sir Ian draw the necessary conclusions himself and stomp his anger out of his system. His role in life was to shut up when he was told to and only come to life when he was called upon to agree with his political master. Back in his own office, he was free to bully and command, as he felt fit.
"You would have thought that the basic instincts of loyalty to the service would have stopped some officious minor official from tittle tattling to some renegade judge. The initiative must surely have come from Deed, not Monty"
"Does it matter in the long run? Deplorable though it is for our private deliberations to be spied upon, the outcome is not necessarily to our disfavour? It is a possible solution."
Sir Ian cooled down a little while the wider implications started to sink in. The very idea was shot through with improbability.
"So, what do you make of this, Lawrence? The lion lying down with the lamb? Surely an unlikely duo, don't you think"
"What is surprising is that Deed offered to work with Monty and Monty actually agreed with it. The idea seems on the face of it, absurd"
"Well, it does mean that if anything goes wrong, it will be Deed having egg on his face. It sets him up to be publicly crucified for nepotism and alternatively, we have insurance via Monty of a sound judgment. It is the best solution. I just want the whole damn thing out of the way and buried in a one inch column in page 33 of the Guardian." Sir Ian snapped pettishly. He conveniently forgot that Lady Rochester's past criminal transgressions had come close to landing him in hot water but that was different. It was him, not Deed.