shadow of britain

Chapter 6 In the Name of the Devil

Because it was still early and the jury members were not yet present, Arthur did not attend directly after entering the justice court, but walked along the carpet.

At the end of the corridor is a dark and ill-lit stone staircase, and down the stairs is a small waiting room for temporary detention of prisoners.

The bailiff in charge of guarding the prisoners was already familiar with Arthur, and he greeted Arthur as usual.

"Hey, isn't this Arthur? It's you again representing Scotland Yard in court today? They might as well send you to the court, why ask you to come every time there are prisoners?"

Arthur smiled and nodded and said, "I don't want to take this job either. But there is no way, the team is short of manpower, and one person has to be split into two parts. You also know that the turnover rate and dismissal rate on our side are double. High. Of the newcomers who joined me at the same time last year, only one-third of them are left now."

The bailiff also sighed: "It's not easy for big guys to live. Why, are you here to interrogate criminals temporarily? Who are you looking for?"

"A child named Adam Evans. In some cases we didn't ask clearly before, so we need to check again."

"You're so careful, buddy! Let me see, Adam Evans...he's in Room 4, do you need a guide?"

"I've been here so many times, even if I'm a donkey, I should know the location by heart."

The bailiff laughed loudly when he heard this, he took the fist-sized key chain off the hook on the wall, and threw it to Arthur with a flick of his hand.

"Then please do it."

Arthur took the keychain and came to the waiting room No. [-].

He inserted the key and opened the heavy iron door, a glaring light shot through the gap in the dark railing of the skylight, under the light, one could clearly see the dust flying in the sky.

In this narrow waiting room, less than half a meter long, there is only a wooden board fixed with iron chains as a seat.

Little Adam, wearing a faded coarse jacket, was sitting quietly against the corner of the board, his two little hands tightly holding the cold iron chain, and his thin torso was leaning against the mossy wall brick, as if trying to To be able to sit more securely.

He heard the sound of the iron door opening, and his blank eyes met Arthur's face.

"Mr. Hastings?"

Arthur closed the iron door with one hand, and put a finger between his lips: "Shh! Keep your voice down, just call me Arthur."

Adam couldn't help becoming excited, his little face flushed, even though he had deliberately lowered his voice, it was easy to detect the joy in his tone.

"It's really you! Looks like I'm about to be judged? I can go to prison for nothing!"

Arthur looked at Adam's innocent face, and was about to tell him the truth.

But before he could speak, Agares' figure appeared again.

But unfortunately, limited by the narrow space of the waiting room, Agares' entire face could only be stuffed into the gap between the bars of the iron window.

The Red Devil leaned on the edge of the iron railing with both hands, and yelled as he pulled his head out vigorously.

"Damn it! What the hell kind of place is this? Our prison cells in hell are bigger than this! Arthur, can't you go somewhere where people should go?"

Arthur selectively ignored Agares' complaints, and he said to Adam: "Do you know how much trouble this time caused?"

"Of course I know."

Adam jumped off the plank, patted his chest proudly and said, "I can tell right away that the umbrella is worth a lot, otherwise I wouldn't have stolen it. This time I will definitely be sentenced to ten or eight years. When I get out of prison, I will be a young and strong boy. At that time, if I go to work in a factory, the unscrupulous factory owner will not even think about paying me half of my salary, I will also pay the price of an adult.”

Arthur's heart sank and he touched Adam's head.

"I'm glad you went to prison with such noble goals. But Adam, I have to tell you bad news. This time, you may be sentenced to death."

"death penalty?"

Little Adam, who was still full of joy just now, turned pale with fright at this word.

His lips trembled, and he asked, "Sir, aren't you really scaring me?"

Arthur said with a serious face: "I seldom scare others, and I never scare children. And with the friendship between the two of us, do you think I will lie to you?"

Little Adam was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "Most of the police are bad guys. They hit me on the head with a stick, called me a little bastard, a little villain, and the sheriff with the hooked nose saw me. Also kicks my ass.

But you, and Officer Tom, you two are good guys.

You gave me a shilling, and talked with me.

Officer Tom took me to his house for dinner. Officer Tom's wife is also a very kind person. She mended my torn trousers for me.

By the way, she also sent me home, but I don't blame her for that.Because she didn't know that my parents didn't want to see me at home. "

After hearing this, Arthur finally understood what was going on in Mrs. Tom's dream.

Maybe she just wanted to save little Adam, or maybe she wanted to accumulate a little good karma for her unborn child.

But what she didn't expect was that her act of kindness almost drove her husband crazy.

Little Adam saw that Arthur didn't speak for a long time, so he asked cautiously: "Sir, if I don't want to die, what should I do now?"

Arthur saw that he was beginning to know that he was afraid, and half of his hanging heart was relieved.

He comforted: "As long as you listen to me, everything will be fine.

You remember, when the court starts later, you must first say hello to the judges and jury gentlemen and ladies.

Although I will try my best to defend you, the final decision is not in my hands, and the verdict will most likely depend on their perception of you.

So you have to make a good first impression on them, which is very important for the final judgment. "

Little Adam nodded lightly: "Is there anything else I need to do?"

"If the magistrate says something very egregious to you, don't refute, don't talk back, don't lose your temper because you have been wronged. You must sincerely admit your mistakes and show a good confession attitude.

Other than that, don't say anything.If the judge asks you questions and asks you to answer them, all you have to do is repeat the confession and repeat what I have said.It's even better if you can squeeze out a few tears.

I just got today's jury list, and it's full of married ladies who treat you like their own child.So the more you cry in court, the farther your neck will be from the gallows. "

Adam blinked, as if rehearsing a crying scene.

But he worked hard for a long time, but he couldn't squeeze a single tear. He replied with a mournful face: "But sir, I really can't cry because of an umbrella."

"Then think about your parents." Arthur took a deep breath and said, "Adam! Think about how your parents beat you."

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, Adam began to sob softly.

His tears dripped down on the wet waiting room floor like beads with a broken thread, and the movement he made also attracted the attention of the bailiff.

"Arthur, what's going on?"

Arthur hurriedly covered Adam's mouth, he looked at his face seriously, and urged him repeatedly.

"Adam, I know you're having a hard time, and I'm having a hard time too. But in order to keep your neck from being hung on a hinge, you have to hold back your tears now. This thing is now more precious than gold, and you can't use it up right away. "

Adam's eye sockets were slightly red, and he sniffed violently. His throat was dry and he couldn't speak normally, but he still nodded firmly at Arthur.

For Adam's trust, Arthur could only return a big hug.

There was a reddish light in his dark eyes, which was Agares smiling.

"Damn, Adam, you have to be worthy of me, Tom, Mrs. Tom, and those of us who still care about you. You must behave well! As for the rest, it's up to me! I, Arthur Hastings, in the name of the devil, I'm going to get you back alive from the magistrates!"

(End of this chapter)