Chapter 6: In the Name of the Devil
Because it was still early and the jury was not yet fully assembled, Arthur did not directly take his seat upon entering the Magistrate’s Court. Instead, he followed the carpet forward.
At the end of the corridor was a dark, poorly lit stone staircase. Downstairs was a small holding cell used for temporarily detaining prisoners.
The bailiff guarding the prisoners was already familiar with Arthur. He greeted him as usual.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Arthur. Back again representing Scotland Yard? Why don’t they just make you a permanent fixture here? Why bother asking you to run back and forth every time there’s a prisoner?”
Arthur smiled and nodded. “I wouldn’t want this job either. But we’re short-staffed, and we have to make do. As you know, our resignation and dismissal rates are both high. Out of the new recruits who joined last year, only a third of them remain.”
The bailiff also sighed. “It’s hard for everyone to make a living. What brings you here today? Are you here for a temporary arraignment? Who are you looking for?”
“A child, Adam Evans. There are some details we didn’t clarify before, so we need to reconfirm.”
“You’re really thorough, kid! Let me see, Adam Evans… He’s in cell number 4. Need a guide?”
“I’ve been here so many times, even if I was a donkey, I should know the way by now.”
The bailiff laughed, took the fist-sized key chain from the hook on the wall, and tossed it to Arthur.
“Go ahead then.”
Arthur took the key chain and went to the holding cell number 4, familiar with the way.
He inserted the key and opened the heavy iron door. A blinding ray of light shot through the crack in the dark iron bars of the skylight, illuminating the dust flying in the air.
This cramped, narrow holding cell, less than half a meter long, had only a wooden board fixed with chains serving as a seat.
Little Adam, wearing a faded coarse linen shirt, sat quietly in the corner of the board, his small hands tightly gripping the cold chains, his thin body leaning against the moss-covered wall bricks, as if trying to make himself sit more comfortably.
He heard the sound of the iron door opening and his dazed eyes met Arthur’s.
“Mr. Hastings?”
Arthur closed the iron door with his hand and put a finger to his lips. “Shhh! Keep it down, just call me Arthur.”
Adam couldn’t help but become excited. His little face flushed red, and even though he tried to lower his voice, it was easy to hear the joy in his tone.
“It’s really you! So, are they going to start the trial now? I can go back to prison and eat for free again!”
Arthur looked at Adam’s innocent face and was about to tell him the truth.
But before he could speak, Agareus reappeared.
Unfortunately, due to the cramped space of the holding cell, only Agareus’ face could squeeze into the crack of the iron bars.
The red devil put both hands on the edge of the iron bars, pulling his head out while shouting.
“Damn it! What kind of hellhole is this? Even our hell cells are more spacious than this! Arthur, can’t you take me to a proper place?”
Arthur chose to ignore Agareus’s complaints and spoke to Adam.
“Do you know what kind of trouble you’ve gotten yourself into?”
“Of course I do.”
Adam jumped off the board and proudly patted his chest. “I saw at a glance that that umbrella was worth a lot, otherwise I wouldn’t have stolen it. This time I’m sure I’ll be sentenced to ten or eight years. By the time I get out of prison, I’ll be a young and strong man. Then I’ll go to the factory to work, and those black-hearted factory owners won’t be able to pay me half the wages anymore. I’ll get paid the full adult price.”
Arthur’s heart sank. He touched Adam’s head.
“I’m glad you have such a noble goal in mind for going to prison. But Adam, I have to tell you some bad news. This time, you might be sentenced to death.”
“Death penalty?”
The little Adam, who had just been full of joy, turned pale at the word.
His lips trembled and he asked, “Sir, are you really not trying to scare me?”
Arthur looked serious. “I rarely scare people, and I never scare children. Besides, with our friendship, do you think I would lie to you?”
Little Adam remained silent for a while before slowly speaking. “Most policemen are bad. They beat my head with sticks and call me a little rascal, a little villain. That police chief with the hooked nose even kicks my butt when he sees me.
But you, and Officer Tom, you two are good people.
You gave me a shilling and talked to me.
Officer Tom took me to his house for dinner. Officer Tom’s wife is a very kind woman. She patched up my torn pants for me.
By the way, she also took me home, but I don’t blame her for that. Because she didn’t know my parents didn’t want to see me at home.”
Arthur finally understood what Mrs. Tom’s dream was all about.
Perhaps she simply wanted to save little Adam, or perhaps she wanted to accumulate some good deeds for her unborn child.
It was just that she didn’t expect that her good deed almost drove her husband crazy.
Little Adam saw that Arthur didn’t speak for a long time, so he asked cautiously, “Sir, what should I do now if I don’t want to die?”
Arthur saw that he was starting to be afraid, and his heart settled a little.
He comforted him. “As long as you listen to me, everything will be fine.
Remember, when the trial begins, you must first greet the judge and the ladies and gentlemen of the jury.
Although I will do my best to defend you, the final decision is not in my hands. The verdict will most likely depend on their impression of you.
So you have to make a good first impression on them. This is crucial to the final outcome of the trial.”
Little Adam nodded slightly. “Is there anything else I need to do?”
“If the magistrate says something very rude to you, don’t argue back, don’t talk back, don’t get angry because you’re wronged. You must sincerely admit your mistakes and show a good attitude of admitting guilt.
Besides that, don’t say anything. If the judge asks you questions and asks you to answer, you just need to repeat your repentance and repeat what I said. If you can squeeze out a few tears, that would be even better.
I just got the jury list for today. There are quite a few married women on it. They’ll see you like they see their own children. So the more heartbroken you are in court, the further your neck will be from the gallows.”
Adam blinked his eyes, as if rehearsing the crying act.
But he tried for a long time, but couldn’t squeeze out a single tear. He looked sad and said, “But sir, I really can’t cry for an umbrella.”
“Then think about your parents.” Arthur took a deep breath. “Adam! Think about how your father and mother beat you.”
As soon as Arthur finished speaking, Adam began to sob softly.
His tears were like a string of broken beads, dripping onto the damp floor of the holding cell, making a sound that caught the bailiff’s attention.
“Arthur, what’s going on?”
Arthur quickly covered Adam’s mouth. He looked at his face seriously and repeatedly reminded him.
“Adam, I know you’re feeling bad, and I’m feeling bad too. But for your neck to not be hanged on the gallows, you must hold back your tears now. This stuff is more precious than gold right now, you can’t use it all up at once.”
Adam’s eyes were slightly red, he sniffed hard, his throat was dry and hoarse and he couldn’t speak normally, but he still nodded firmly at Arthur.
For Adam’s trust, Arthur could only return a heavy hug.
His dark eyes flashed with a reddish light, that was Agareus smiling.
“Damn it, Adam, you have to live up to me, live up to Tom, live up to Mrs. Tom, live up to all of us who still care about you. You have to perform 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 from the Magistrate’s Court alive, damn it!”
(End of Chapter)