Guidebook for the Dark Duke

THIS IS THE LAST PART. 

In the courthouse, Sheriff Chandler was standing proudly at the door of the courtroom with several police officers following him closely.

When he saw Evan, he waved at him, “Reverend Bruce! Here!”

Quickly, Evan walked across the corridor. Sheriff Chandler smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder, “I thought you wouldn’t come. Why did you change your mind?”

Panting, Evan spoke quickly, “Sheriff, you arrested the wrong person.”

Sheriff Chandler was surprised at Evan’s words before laughing out loud, “My good Reverend, don’t joke with me!”

“I’m not joking with you,” Evan had a serious look on his face, “I have found evidence, please stop the trial!”

Stunned, Sheriff Chandler looked at Evan, “You…. Are you telling the truth?”

Evan nodded solemnly, “This is a matter that concerns a human life, please be serious about it.”

The cigarette butt in Sheriff Chandler’s hand fell to the ground. He woke up and waved to a police officer behind him, “Go to Judge Conville and tell him that the police have found new evidence. So, today’s lawsuit needs to be postponed.”

The police officer was shocked, as if he didn’t believe that the sheriff would believe a priest’s nonsense. He wanted to interject but Sheriff Chandler waved him away mercilessly, “No more words! Go quickly!”

The police officer ran quickly to the office of the judge.

Sheriff Chandler gave Evan a meaningful look and said solemnly, “Reverend, I trust your judgement but I hope you can understand what you’re doing.”

Evan looked at the sheriff with a smile on his lips, “Of course, I know this. You can rest assured.”

The matter should have an ending this time. After so many days of doubt, he had finally gotten answers. But, is this place really that romantic novel filled with pink bubbles?

Judge Conville was very angry. Not only because Sheriff Chandler decided to postpone the court proceedings so arbitrarily, but also because he was pulled away from his comfortable sofa into this empty hall by Sheriff Chandler in such a rude way. And in front of him sat an unusually handsome young priest.

“Reverend.” Judge Conville is a devout Protestant, so when facing a priest, he tried to hold back his dissatisfaction, “Sheriff Chandler says that you have a different opinion about this case. Is this true?” Judge Conville gave Evan a suspicious look.

Evan looked at Judge Conville gently and smiled, “I do have some opinions and I would like for you to hear my testimony here.”

Judge Conville frowned, “Reverend, it’s not that I don’t trust you. As testified by God, the most respected people in the world are priests. But I have to say this case is very clear to me, and you’re not a professional detective. Isn’t it too reckless for you to say such a thing?”

Evan fully understands the meaning the conservative judge was trying to convey. In fact, he doesn’t want to be in the limelight in this kind of matter, but since it concerns human life, he could not just turn a blind eye to it.

“Judge, this is a matter that concerns human life after all. Before you make a judgement, please hear me out first. In the face of such a thing, I can’t let go of my doubts.” Evan spoke cautiously.

Judge Conville had to agree with such high-sounding rhetoric. He has been a judge for more than thirty years and this is the first time he’s been taught this way by a priest.

At this moment, someone came from the corridor, accompanied by a crisp applause. Evan and Judge Conville looked back at the same time.

Duke Wilson stepped out of the shadows and looked at Evan with a look of appreciation, “Reverend, your compassion will also move God.”

Seeing that it was Duke Wilson, Judge Conville’s expression changed. Immediately, he walked to the duke’s side and bowed respectfully, “Lord Duke.”

Duke Wilson raised the corners of his mouth arrogantly, “Judge Conville, your decision is very correct.”

Judge Conville was delighted, “Thank you for your compliment. Reverend Bruce is a person worthy of respect and as a judge, naturally I don’t want to waste a life.”

Duke Wilson nodded with satisfaction.

Evan was embarrassed. Although he wants to win the duke’s favor, even if he is thick skinned, he blushed at such blatant admiration.

“I don’t deserve your compliment. I don’t know more about this matter than anyone else but I also don’t know less than anyone else. I just hope that I can fully describe what I know before a ruling will be made by our honourable judge.” Evan gave the judge a slight nod.

Judge Conville was very satisfied with Evan’s compliment and there was even a smile on his face.

An almost imperceptible smile flashed on the corners of Duke Wilson’s mouth and his eyes softened as he looked at Evan.

At this time, Sheriff Chandler arrived with all the relevant parties. Sheriff Chandler was very surprised that the duke was there. But it was a good thing for him, because it was after all a very honourable thing to have a duke testify.”

Mrs Lawrence looked very haggard due to the long term imprisonment. Her face was pale and she looked straight at her feet, indifferent to everything around her.

Although Mr Lawrence didn’t suffer the pain of being imprisoned, his face looked even uglier than Mrs Lawrence’s face. His usual graceful demeanour was now lost completely, his clothes were wrinkled and the stubble on his face was very thick. He watched Mrs Lawrence with deep sadness in his eyes.

Mrs Sanders was better, she was supported by Mr Chandler and she had a calm expression. It was only when she looked at the Lawrence couple that her eyes showed her hatred towards them.

On the other hand, Dr. Hester took Alia to the side, he had a bewildered expression and didn’t know where to put her hands. Alia was calmer as she held onto Dr. Hester’s arm.

Now that all the parties involved had arrived, Sheriff Chandler stood in the middle of the hall and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, everyone must be clear about the purpose of calling you all to this place at this time. About Mr John Lawrence’s death, I made my judgement and I also got the statement of Mrs Lawrence’s guilty plea but now, Reverend Bruce disputes my conclusion.”

When the sheriff said this, everyone was shocked, especially Mrs Lawrence, who looked at Evan with panic in her eyes.

“You….you can’t…” Mrs Lawrence muttered.

Evan looked at Mrs Lawrence with his lips in a slight arc, “Mrs Lawrence, I deeply admire your sacrifice but such a sacrifice is meaningless. Everyone should pay for what they have done. Your sacrifice will not let little John’s soul rest in peace.”

Mrs Lawrence’s legs were weak and she almost fell on her knees, “No…no… I did all of it, my John, my John was killed by me.”

Evan looked at her with pity in his eyes, “Then, why did you kill John?”

Panicked, Mrs Lawrence looked around and when she saw Mrs Sanders, a deep sense of despair overflowed from the bottom of her heart, “I… I don’t know, I accidentally killed him. I didn’t mean to… Please…”

Evan sighed deeply, “I respect you, but please respect the cognitive ability of everyone present here. John’s wound was caused by a blow from a left-handed person. If you killed John by mistake, then you need to hold up that heavy lamp with one hand to hit John, who is at least ten inches taller than you. You see, you’re a thin lady and I don’t think you can inadvertently cause that.”

Everyone’s eyes focused on the thin body of Mrs Lawrence. She was wearing clothes of the smallest size but it still looked empty. Her figure had always been something Mrs Lawrence was proud of, but at this moment, it became a fatal defect.

Sheriff Chandler suddenly spoke at this moment, “What about John’s depravity?”

Looking at Mrs Lawrence, he saw that her face was blank when she heard this question.

Evan nodded to the sheriff, “Sheriff, thank you for the question. We can now see clearly Mrs Lawrence didn’t know about John’s depravity. The depravity she talks about is John’s insistence in getting engaged to Miss Alia. She doesn’t know anything about John’s dark side.”

When she heard this, Mrs Lawrence seemed like she had seen a driftwood to grab on to and she shouted, “I know! I know!”

Evan just smiled softly, “My dear lady, please don’t deceive us anymore. Only Jimmy knew about John’s depravity, and he told only one person.”

Evan looked at Mr Lawrence, who was standing behind Mrs Lawrence with his head bowed. From the beginning, he stood there straight like a stiff dead wood, not saying a word.

But when Evan finished speaking, he finally raised his head and burst into tears.

Mrs Lawrence pounced on Mr Lawrence like she was going mad. She hugged him tightly and shouted hoarsely, “Go away! Get out of this place! This is a place cursed by God! He will engulf you! Everyone wants to frame you! My poor John!”

Mr Lawrence’s Christian name is also John.

Mr Lawrence didn’t move like something was holding him down and he let Mrs Lawrence tear at his clothes without moving.

“You mean me?” Mr Lawrence looked at Evan with a look of relief.

Evan nodded regretfully and handed the letter in his hand to Sheriff Chandler.

The content of Jimmy’s letter was very simple. He wrote that he told Mr Lawrence everything that night but unfortunately, Mr Lawrence didn’t appreciate his honesty and he kicked him out of Woolwich Manor on the spot, warning him to not talk nonsense.

Poor Jimmy walked out of the manor in a hurry, but he felt sorry for little John so he went back to the manor with the intention of apologising to John. When he got there, he happened to see Mr Lawrence coming out of the house.

The next day, the news of John’s death spread through Delanlier. Jimmy, like a frightened rabbit, quickly jumped onto the earliest train and left Delanlier. He had written the letter before he left but because of his poor handwriting, the truth was just coming to light.

Shocked, Sheriff Chandler stared at Mr Lawrence. He couldn’t believe that this gentleman in front of him would do such a shocking thing. Rather than believe that, he would rather believe that Mrs Lawrence did it.

“Then… What about the brooch?” When he finally reacted, Sheriff Chandler looked at Evan with eagerness in his eyes.

Evan looked at Mrs Lawrence. “Sheriff, you’re a man, it may be difficult for a man to understand a woman’s love of jewellery. Mrs Lawrence is a fashion icon in Delanlier. She wears the most gorgeous evening gowns in London’s latest styles. She likes to hold dinner parties and brag about herself. She has an urgent desire to pursue a high-quality life. I can’t understand why such a person never wore a brooch that is unique in the world when she got it. Instead, it fell into the fire and was found next to the body of her beloved son and she did not search for it.”

Evan approached Mrs Lawrence as he spoke. She looked at him almost begging with the expression on her face. He asked in a gentle tone, “My dear lady, please tell me, what is the colour of the brooch? What is engraved on the back?”

Mrs Lawrence was now completely panicked. Waving her hands, she looked at Mr Lawrence as if asking for help, “I…. I forgot, I did it… I did it, you have to believe me!” She grabbed Evan’s hand and spoke in a pleading tone.

Evan just looked at her indifferently, “Madam, please tell me.”

“Don’t ask me again! You devil! You will go to hell!” She held Evan’s sleeves with hatred and anger in her eyes.

Duke Wilson frowned and wanted to step forward to rescue Evan. Sheriff Chandler also reacted quickly and ordered the police officers to pull Mrs Lawrence away from Evan. The situation was on the verge of getting out of control. Everyone was stunned by Mrs Lawrence’s erratic behaviour.

“The pearl is pink and on the back of the brooch is written, ‘To my dearest Mary, your pious John’.”

Mr Lawrence’s voice cooled all the madness. It was neither loud nor low, he spoke like he was reciting a gentle love poem.