B-Berry and I Look Back Read Online Free Page A

‘Take up your money and go.’
    “After a painful scene, she took the money and went: but not before she had warned me.
    “‘Monsieur will hear from my lawyer,’ was what she said.
    “We gave the matter no thought, for threats, however idle, are easy to make. But her threat was not idle at all, for a day or two later a notaire ’s letter arrived. This declared – with many expressions of devotion – that, unless I paid the lady twelve months’ wages, I should receive a writ.
    “Well, I went to see Laborde, who had seen to our lease and one or two things like that.
    “‘Have you ever heard,’ I said, ‘of any domestic servant’s being engaged by the year?’
    “‘Never, Monsieur,’ he said. ‘Neither has anyone else. The woman must be deranged.’
    “‘She didn’t give me that impression,’ I said. ‘Never mind. Please accept service and keep me informed.’
    “‘Monsieur will have to go to Court.’
    “‘That’s all right by me,’ I said. ‘I never submit to blackmail.’
    “Well, the proceedings took shape. He engaged a nice young counsel – he said it was better so. And the case was presently ‘fixed’ for an April afternoon. It was to be heard in a little village court-room some five miles off; and when the day arrived, I called for my young counsel and took him with me in the car.
    “Our case was first in the list on that sunshiny afternoon, and I took good care to be there in plenty of time. I was given a nice front seat by my counsel’s side. I didn’t see the cook, but he said that she was there. When the three Judges, robed, came in, I naturally rose and bowed. I fear such reverence was not usually accorded, for all three returned my bow with their eyes on my face.
    “‘Admirable’, whispered my counsel, as we resumed our seats. ‘Monsieur has nothing to learn.’
    “I don’t suppose the cook thought of bowing, and I am inclined to think that her case was dead as mutton from that time on. However, pro forma it was heard.
    “Her solicitor said a few words and then put her into the box.
    “When she said that she claimed a year’s wages, the Judges stared upon her as though she were out of her mind. And then they fell upon her – all three, and all at once. They cross-examined her, they cautioned her, they rebuked her, they contradicted her, they interrupted her, they looked at one another and laughed very nasty laughs: and then they returned to the worry and tore and ate her again. But one thing they didn’t do. They didn’t daunt her. And I must confess to admiration for the way in which she rode out the storm, like a well-found ship at sea. After a quarter of an hour she was ordered to stand down, and the Judges sat back in their seats.
    “My counsel rose to his feet, but the senior Judge waved him away. ‘You’ve no case to answer,’ he said. ‘Judgment for Monsieur with costs.’
    “‘I shall appeal,’ cried the cook, from the back of the court.
    “The three Judges laughed like hell. Then, ‘All right,’ said the senior Judge. ‘You lodge your appeal.’
    “Then the three of them rose, and everyone else got up. They all bowed directly to me, and of course I bowed back. And then they left the Bench and we left the court.
    “I’d berthed the car under some limes, and as we were walking towards her, I turned to my counsel and spoke.
    “‘Will she really appeal?’ I said.
    “‘I hardly think so, Monsieur. She may of course.’
    “‘Where would her appeal be heard?’
    “‘But here, Monsieur. Here, in this court.’
    “‘And who will hear it?’ I said.
    “My question seemed to surprise him.
    “‘But the same three Judges, Monsieur. They are, as you have seen, very able men.’
    “I felt rather dazed.
    “‘But not the same three?’ I said. ‘I mean, she’s appealing from them.’
    “‘The same three, Monsieur.’ I put a hand to my head. ‘Monsieur need have no fear. Their judgment will be the same.’
    “I didn’t pursue the