[Pride and Prejudice] Mary's Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 63Lunch

Mary's tense heart suddenly relaxed, and she couldn't help letting out a long breath of "huh--", and the people listening around also stood up and applauded Jennifer Crowley in the defendant's row.The poor girl wept with joy when she heard the result, and the bailiff opened the fence to let her out. At this time, two people rushed down from the public gallery to hug her and wept bitterly. Presumably, they should be her relatives and friends.

At this time, Mr. Fox, who had been sitting next to Mary, turned his face and said to Mary: "I have to go out to comfort my client first, Miss Mary, you can continue to sit here, there is another Alfred below. case."

Mary nodded, smiled and asked him to go at his ease. Jennifer Crawley and her relatives and friends had already walked to Mr. Alfred's side and hugged him warmly. Mr. Fox quietly walked to them and said something, They took them away, and the girl and her two relatives kept turning their heads to thank Mr. Alfred until they walked out the door.

At this point the clerk began to read aloud the next case: "Mark Tolin is accused of defying God and the king for the murder of Tom Houbin in Pedder's Lane, City of London, on August 8th."

Mary thought to herself that this pace is really fast enough. Before she had time to have any feelings about the previous case, she would immediately enter the next case to watch. At this speed, two or three cases could be tried in one morning.

This case is a murder case, the prosecution lawyer and the defense lawyer have not changed, even the jury and the judge have not changed.

The case was not complicated. The defendant, Mark Tolin, was a friend of the deceased. The two had a quarrel because of differences of opinion. The deceased died the next day after returning home. The family found a bleeding wound in his hair.

So Mark Tolin was arrested as the first suspect.

The focus of this case is who hit the wound on the deceased's head. The defense debated fiercely on this point, but the defendant had more than one testimony to prove that he just quarreled with the deceased and did not beat anyone. He stayed at home and did not go out. The janitor of his apartment testified for him, so Mary thought the case should not be difficult.

The judge and the jury still looked serious, but the other people present looked relaxed. Of the three ladies who came in with the judge, two of them had already asked the servants to pour a glass of drink and whispered slowly. Only one A lady wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a lace bow on her head is still listening intently to the sharp arrows of both sides.

What surprised Mary even more was that she saw the prosecuting lawyer sitting there pouring something to drink - it was definitely not water - which was an eye-opener.

Mary had just drawn her attention back to her friend's sharp eloquence when Mr. Fox returned and sat down beside Mary again.

Mary asked softly, "How is Miss Crawley?"

"It's not bad, but this time it frightened the child. Her father is a shoemaker. There are seven children in the family. The older ones have to come to London to beg for a living." Mr. Fox sighed: "Her brothers got together. £30 to sue her, but I think Alfred will lose money this time."

"What does this mean? Can't they come up with money?" Mary wondered.

"They've paid, £15 for courts, £15 for commission, but I'm afraid our generous Mr. Alfred will give back to the poor girl and her brother his fair share of £15 in commission, he said. It's not the first time it's been done."

Mary thought for a while and said with a smile: "Mr. Alfred is tolerant and kind, he is really a generous gentleman."

"Yes, yes, I would like to thank the Duke of Edwards for saving him a large sum of money so that I don't have to always worry about my young friend going broke."

"I don't think Mr. Alfred may need to return the commission. Charity will not make him poor. As a friend, I can help."

"You?" Mr. Fox raised his eyebrows: "Then Miss Mary said she wants to support Alfred or Jennifer Crowley?"

Mary shook her head and laughed: "I think Mr. Alfred is richer than me, so I don't need to rob the poor and give to the rich, but I can help arrange Jennifer Crawley's new job, so that Mr. Alfred will not have to worry about the future. "

At this time, the trial of the case was coming to an end, the jury declared the defendant not guilty, and Mr. Alfred won again.

It was almost noon at this time, and the judge decided not to proceed with the trial in the morning, and the people in the courtroom dispersed.

Alfred walked to the corridor, and Mary walked up with Mr. Fox to congratulate him on his victory, but Mr. Alfred's expression was not very happy. He just said humbly: "Without Mr. Fox's help, If we collect detailed evidence and materials, these two lawsuits will not go so smoothly."

Mr. Fox exchanged compliments with him, and then told him that Miss Mary had decided to recommend a new job to Jennifer Crawley.Mr. Alfred's expression was a little relaxed this time, and he said to Mary gently: "Thanks to your kindness, Miss Mary."

Mary winked at him: "Of course, Mr. Alfred, kindness is not only a virtue unique to gentlemen."

Then a joyous voice called out: "Alf—Alf—"

The three turned around, and it turned out to be the lady wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a lace bowknot. She walked over happily and quickly, and said to Alfred with joy, "It's really great, you won again!" I know I won't come in vain."

Mr. Fox obviously knew this lady, and he said to her respectfully and kindly: "Whether you win the case or not, Mr. Alfred's wonderful defense must be watched. Mrs. Woodhouse, I promise you will always It won't be in vain, as long as you sit there, Mr. Alfred will be full of energy like a steam-powered machine!"

His compliment seemed to be just right, and Mary saw Mrs. Woodhouse burst into joy: "That's why I will try to come to the hearing when I have time, Mr. Fox."

Her tone seemed to be very familiar with Mr. Fox, and she looked very familiar with Mr. Alfred. Mary was wondering about the identity of this lady, and Mr. Alfred quickly introduced the two parties.

"Mom, please let me introduce Miss Mary Bennet to you. She is my friend and she is here for the trial today."

"Miss Mary, this is my mother, Mrs Woodhouse."

It turned out to be Mr. Alfred's mother, no wonder she paid so much attention to it from the beginning to the end!

Mary hurriedly saluted the lady. Mrs. Woodhouse was very kind to her son's friend. She also happily praised Mary's dress. Loved her son so much, Mary's halo of happiness rippled like ripples every time she mentioned Mr. Alfred's successful defense.

She said happily: "You are such a good girl, Mary, not only beautiful but also intelligent."

It's really strange to say this, "No one has praised me for being beautiful, madam, you really praise me so much."

"What? Are the people around you short-sighted?" Mrs. Woodhouse scolded, staring at her beautiful ice-blue eyes, "or they all have amnesia, and they don't even remember to praise the beautiful lady next to them."

Mary pursed her lips and laughed: "Probably because my sisters are prettier than me!"

"Oh, then your house has become a den of beauties? If there is a chance, I will definitely invite you sisters to my house."

"Then we shall be honored, my lady."

After you came to me, Mrs. Woodhouse seemed to see something through the crowd, and the expression on her face suddenly changed. She hurriedly told Mr. Alfred to go to Woodhouse tonight Left after dinner.

Mr. Alfred waved goodbye to his mother, and Mr. Fox sighed: "I thought I would have the honor to have a casual meal with Mrs. Woodhouse, but now it seems that I will be disturbed by this guy."

Mary didn't understand, so Mr. Alfred smiled bitterly at her and said, "It's Sir Romilly. He has been trying to talk about my stepfather, so my mother has been avoiding him recently."

Sure enough, a gentleman walked towards them quickly, and when he came to Alfred, he complained: "Mrs. Woodhouse does not have to run away as soon as she sees me. I really hope to be at peace with her." Speak quietly."

"As long as you don't always try to ask her to join you in convincing her husband, Sir Romilly, I believe my mother will be willing to sit down with you and have a good talk." Alfred said helplessly to the gentleman.

The gentleman said to Alfred solemnly: "Mr. Alfred, my noble duty and sense of duty make me do my best to introduce my bill, and do my best to ensure that it is passed in Parliament. If Woodhow If Mr. Si can agree to my motion, the chances of its success will be much higher."

"You should go to MP Woodhouse himself. My mother is useless."

"As the wife of a member of Parliament, she should use her influence and I assure you, Mr Alfred, that this bill means a lot and if it passes, we will go a step further in reforming the judiciary."

Mr. Alfred frowned, and he said to Mary apologetically, "Would you like to listen to the boring jurisprudence and politics during lunch?"

Mary smiled brightly: "Women don't have political rights, but I don't think that prevents us from paying attention to politics."

"Then can I invite you to taste the Old Bailey's lunch, the food there will of course make your gourmet tongue a little bit wronged, but I guarantee that if you taste the Old Bailey's white soup, you will think that the previous torture is all worth it."

So the group of four came to the restaurant next to the Old Bailey. Mary didn't know whether this restaurant was a private restaurant or the public canteen of the Old Bailey Court. , In addition, there are some reporters who write and draw with notebooks.

The four of them sat on a small table in a corner, and because they were next to a big window, the environment was very bright.

Mr. Alfred pulled out a chair for Mary very gentlemanly and asked her to sit down, and Mr. Fox asked Sir Romilly: "You must propose the abolition of the death penalty again, right?"

Sir Romilly nodded: "Oh, yes, you know that I have sworn to abolish the death penalty, but so far I have only achieved one thing, and that is to change the crime of theft against the person from the death penalty to exile."

Alfred said with admiration: "You set a precedent for the abolition of the death penalty in the future, and history will remember your feats."

"It's not enough, Mr. Alfred, we have to keep going. We have too many death sentences. I have never seen so many executions in other countries, let alone more cases of physical mutilation. For other punishments, I am afraid that I will not be able to fulfill my ideals in my lifetime, but I would rather talk to you young people, is every young lawyer a new hope for the British judiciary?"

The death penalty reform they talk about Mary dodged from the newspapers a few years ago, the Elizabeth 8 Chapter 4 Act made theft against the person punishable by death, the King signed the Act a few years ago changing it to a minimum of 7 years exile or a maximum of 3 years in prison.Unexpectedly, it was the reform bill proposed by the gentleman in front of her. Mary couldn't help but carefully looked at the gentleman in front of her.

He was obviously not young, with big bags under his eyes, but his eyes were sharp. He found Mary watching him, so he cast his eyes on her and asked, "My lady, do you have any questions?"

Mary was a little embarrassed, just at this time the waiter brought the meal, Mary asked Sir Romilly without changing expression: "May I ask what aspect of the death penalty your proposal is about this time?"

Sir Romilly didn't think there was anything out of the ordinary about this lady. He always believed that even women without political rights could exert political influence that cannot be ignored. This is why he would spare no effort to persuade Mrs. Woodhouse every time he saw her. It's the same as trying to influence Councilor Woodhouse, so although Mr. Alfred just briefly introduced the lady's name, he still won't ignore her question: "It's about the cloth bleaching field, miss."

"Cloth bleaching field?" Mary hadn't heard about the penalty in this regard, but she understood after a little thought. It was probably the same as shoplifting, church theft, and factory theft. Stealing was punishable by death, but only The sentencing standards are different.

Mr. Alfred explained to her: "George II issued a decree that the theft of 10 shillings in the cloth bleaching yards in England was punishable by death. Our king also issued a decree stipulating that 5 shillings in the cloth bleaching yards in Ireland Theft of five shillings is punishable by death."

"What? This is too harsh!" Mary exclaimed in surprise, "God, I have always loved and respected His Majesty the King. I never knew he had issued such a decree!" She always imagined George III as a hero in a romance novel. Warm man, but now the cruel facts made her sober all of a sudden, as expected, distance produces beauty, this is London, the residence of the king, if you are too close to the king, you will know too much shady stuff.

"You are very familiar with the Code, Mr. Alfred," said Sir Romily admiringly.

"This is just common sense of the law that a lawyer should know."

"But His Majesty is still alive, and I'm afraid this decree will not be overturned," said Mr. Fox.

"I don't think so," Sir Romilly shook his finger. "This year, His Royal Highness the Regent is in charge of the Parliament. According to the tradition of our British royal family, princes always like to fight against their father."

Alfred looked at Sir Romilly: "I think the key to this decree lies in the cloth bleaching field, and the attitude of the owners is the key, after all, they are the stakeholders."

Sir Romilly's eyes lit up immediately: "That's right! Mr. Alfred, I have collected two petitions, one signed by 150 operators of Irish cloth bleaching yards, and the other signed by the British printing press. Cloth mill owners, they all petitioned for the repeal of these two decrees."

Alfred's expression changed obviously when he heard this, and he said affirmatively to Sir Romilly: "There has never been a group in the UK that has publicly opposed such a law that is beneficial to them. I think your proposal this time It will certainly be brought to the attention of Congress."

Sir Romilly is equally confident: "Yes, I am 80.00% sure of convincing the parliament this time, but before that, I can certainly hope to gain the support of more members."

"In that case, I would like to go to Mr. Woodhouse to lobby for you. He is a member of the Scottish Parliament. He will definitely be interested in the petition of the Scottish factory owners. I can't guarantee the result, but I will definitely do my best."

"Great!" Sir Romilly was so excited, he stopped to eat, "As long as Mr. Woodhouse agrees, then all 45 votes in Scotland will be in my pocket."

Mr. Alfred didn't speak, but Mary was very happy about it: "I think your motion will be passed, Sir Romilly, I want to congratulate you in advance."

"Thank you for your encouragement, kind girl, do you also agree with the reform of the criminal law? It is rare to see young girls like to pay attention to these things."

The author has something to say:

I’ve been so busy and busy that I almost forgot to update it. I was still dissatisfied with some things, but it’s too late to modify it. If anyone has any comments and suggestions, please leave a message for me.For some reasons, I may have to keep updating at this speed in the future. I just changed the cover update time today. If things go well with my family, I will try my best to restore the previous update speed, but I'm afraid it will be difficult.Sorry everyone!