Maud resumes her seat.
Miss Athene Builder, you were present, I think?
Athene. [Rising] Yes, Sir.
Mayor. What do you say to this matter?
Athene. I didn’t see anything very clearly, but I think my sister’s account is correct, sir.
Mayor. Is it your impression that the cane inflicted the injury?
Athene. [In a low voice] Yes.
Mayor. With or without deliberate intent?
Athene. Oh! without.
Builder looks at her.
Mayor. But you were not in a position to see very well?
Athene. No, Sir.
Mayor. Your sister having withdrawn her
charge, we needn’t go into that.
Very good!
He motions her to sit
down. Athene, turning her eyes on her
Father’s impassive
figure, sits.
Mayor. Now, there was a young man. [Pointing to Herringhame] Is this the young man?
Moon. Yes, Your Worship.
Mayor. What’s your name?
Guy. Guy Herringhame.
Mayor. Address?
Guy. Er—the Aerodrome, Sir. Mayor. Private, I mean?
The moment is one of considerable tension.
Guy. [With an effort] At the moment, sir, I haven’t one. I’ve just left my diggings, and haven’t yet got any others.
Mayor. H’m! The Aerodrome. How did you come to be present?
Guy. I—er
BUILDER’s eyes go round and rest on him for a moment.
It’s in my sister’s studio that Miss Athene Builder is at present working, sir. I just happened to—to turn up.
Mayor. Did you appear on the scene, as the constable says, during the struggle?
Guy. Yes, sir.
Mayor. Did he summon you to his aid?
Guy. Yes—No, sir. Miss Maud Builder did that.
Mayor. What do you say to this blow?
Guy. [Jerking his chin up a little] Oh! I saw that clearly.
Mayor. Well, let us hear.
Guy. The constable’s arm struck the cane violently and it flew up and landed him in the eye.
Mayor. [With a little grunt] You are sure of that?
Guy. Quite sure, sir.
Mayor. Did you hear any language?
Guy. Nothing out of the ordinary, sir. One or two damns and blasts.
Mayor. You call that ordinary?
Guy. Well, he’s a—magistrate, sir.
The Mayor utters
a profound grunt. Chantrey smiles.
There is a
silence. Then
the Mayor leans over to Chantrey for a short
colloquy.
Chantrey. Did you witness any particular violence other than a resistance to arrest?