Sir Louis Visits A Felon
Sep. 15th, 2006 07:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
avevale_intelligencer"Staggerin'," said Sir Louis Grievance mournfully. "Absolutely staggerin'. I tell you, Shadman, it's a black day for British justice."
Master Shadman said nothing. His face was totally impassive. He might have been watching a not particularly impressive performance on the stage.
"We'll not let this lie," the knight continued. "I have a few acquaintances who still bother to roll round to the House of an evenin'. We'll overturn this infamous conviction or my name's not--"
"I beg you, Sir Louis," Shadman said quietly, "to do no such thing."
"Eh? What's that?" Sir Louis was dumbfounded.
"Any attempt to exonerate me will merely prolong the experience. I have found it distasteful enough. I will serve whatever Doom they may impose and be done with it."
"But damme, man, you're innocent!"
"Indeed I am, Sir Louis, and everyone who is in any way significant to me will be well aware of that. My position is secure; that rather appalling young man you saw in court is merely a locum tenens. Even were you to be successful, you could not accomplish anything that would make any difference to me."
Sir Louis stared at him.
"Sometimes, Shadman," he said at last, "you can seem somewhat appallin' yourself."
A mellow-toned bell rang three times in the corridor outside.
"My Doom has been prepared," Shadman said with an ironic smile. "I must go and hear it."
Sir Louis looked vaguely embarrassed. "Shadman, erm...that is to say..."
"There is no need for you to remain, Sir Louis," Shadman said, the smile softening just a little. "By all means seek out your refreshment, and return to Avevale by the five-forty train. Remember me to Sir Tempest and Lady Mary."
"'Course I will," the knight rumbled, as he rose creakily from the hard chair. "We're all behind you, my boy...or would be if you'd let us," he added a trifle querulously.
"One more thing, Sir Louis." There was a new edge in Master Shadman's voice, and Sir Louis halted at the door of the cell. "Do not mention this in your letters to France. For my sake."
"Depend on me, my boy," Sir Louis said huskily. "Depend on me."
He dabbed at his eyes as he climbed the stone stairs.
"Stiff-necked young puppy," he muttered. "He'll learn."
Master Shadman said nothing. His face was totally impassive. He might have been watching a not particularly impressive performance on the stage.
"We'll not let this lie," the knight continued. "I have a few acquaintances who still bother to roll round to the House of an evenin'. We'll overturn this infamous conviction or my name's not--"
"I beg you, Sir Louis," Shadman said quietly, "to do no such thing."
"Eh? What's that?" Sir Louis was dumbfounded.
"Any attempt to exonerate me will merely prolong the experience. I have found it distasteful enough. I will serve whatever Doom they may impose and be done with it."
"But damme, man, you're innocent!"
"Indeed I am, Sir Louis, and everyone who is in any way significant to me will be well aware of that. My position is secure; that rather appalling young man you saw in court is merely a locum tenens. Even were you to be successful, you could not accomplish anything that would make any difference to me."
Sir Louis stared at him.
"Sometimes, Shadman," he said at last, "you can seem somewhat appallin' yourself."
A mellow-toned bell rang three times in the corridor outside.
"My Doom has been prepared," Shadman said with an ironic smile. "I must go and hear it."
Sir Louis looked vaguely embarrassed. "Shadman, erm...that is to say..."
"There is no need for you to remain, Sir Louis," Shadman said, the smile softening just a little. "By all means seek out your refreshment, and return to Avevale by the five-forty train. Remember me to Sir Tempest and Lady Mary."
"'Course I will," the knight rumbled, as he rose creakily from the hard chair. "We're all behind you, my boy...or would be if you'd let us," he added a trifle querulously.
"One more thing, Sir Louis." There was a new edge in Master Shadman's voice, and Sir Louis halted at the door of the cell. "Do not mention this in your letters to France. For my sake."
"Depend on me, my boy," Sir Louis said huskily. "Depend on me."
He dabbed at his eyes as he climbed the stone stairs.
"Stiff-necked young puppy," he muttered. "He'll learn."