Summary: In which Clive's hearing in front of the Bar Standards Board actually goes ahead.
The hearing is in front of a judge and two QCs. It's all very informal, but Clive knows that informality can be deceptive. His career is on the line here.
Milson is there, of course, next to the barrister representing him. Martha is there to represent Clive, and Billy and Jake are there for moral support.
Milson gives evidence first, making it sound like Clive brutally attacked him while he was on his way to deliver some puppies to an orphanage. Then he talks about the photographs Jamie the journalist had shown him of his client's father talking to his client's victim, photographs which he learned Clive had already been made aware of. "Naturally I felt honour-bound to report the matter," he concludes gravely. "I might have let the assault slide, but withholding evidence in a criminal case…"
"Thank you, Mr Milson." The barrister representing Milson sits down.
When it's Clive's turn to give evidence, Martha takes him through the events in Oxford sympathetically. Clive plays up the contriteness, playing down the entitled public schoolboy. Then Milson's barrister stands up to cross-examine him.
"Mr Reader, have you ever taken any class A drugs?"
Honesty is the best policy, especially under oath. "Yes."
"Which ones?"
"Ecstasy and cocaine." Clive can see Martha writing impassively on her notepad out of the corner of his eye.
"Ever tried heroin?"
"Of course not!" Clive is furious at this ridiculous suggestion, making him out to be some kind of junkie because he occasionally does a line at a party.
Milson's barrister looks sceptical. "Would be it fair to say that you have a cavalier attitude to the law? One rule for you and another—"
"Your Honour, relevance." Martha stands up. "We're here to discuss two particular incidents, the alleged assault on my learned friend," she gives Milson a brief nod. "And the alleged withholding of evidence. We're not here to assess Mr Reader's character in general, and if we're looking to disbar any lawyer who's ever taken recreational drugs, courtrooms will soon be looking thin on the ground."
God, he loves her. "Mr Reader's character is relevant to these proceedings," says the judge. "But let's move on from the drugs issue."
Martha sits down.
"Mr Reader, you applied to become a QC in the 2010–11 Competition, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Can you explain why your application was unsuccessful?"
"Obviously not," says Clive through gritted teeth.
"Was it anything to do with the fact that one of the assessors was the father of your pupil, whom you were having a sexual relationship with?"
"Your Honour!" Martha stands up again.
"I withdraw the question." Milson's barrister sits down next to Milson, who smirks.
"Time for a short break, I think." The judge stands.
Outside in the corridor, Milson approaches Clive, who is getting a watery cup of tea from the vending machine. "She's very good, Blondie," he says, watching Martha, who is talking to Billy and Jake. "Have you slept with her as well?"
"I don't think we should be talking right now, do you?" Clive says out of the side of his mouth.
"Oh, you have?" Milson looks delighted. "You are a busy boy, aren't you?"
"Clive!" calls Martha from the other end of the corridor. Clive glares at Milson one last time and goes to join Martha, Billy and Jake.