There was an outburst of clapping in the court in which the judge joined absent-mindedly. When the noise had died down, the judge cleared his throat and peered at Adrian.
“Adrian Rookwhistle,” he said. “You have been found guilty of the charges brought against you.”
“Beg pardon, my lord,” said the foreman of the jury, “but we have found him not guilty.”
“Oh,” said the judge, “did you? Well you have been found not guilty of the charges brought against you and so I find it my bounden duty to sentence you,” he paused and collected his thoughts, “so I find it my bounden duty to discharge you without a stain on your character.”
The judge peered at the jury.
“You have been an honest and upright jury,” he said, “and have carried out your duties extremely well, I therefore discharge you and absolve you from jury duties for the next year.”
He shuffled his papers in an abstracted sort of way and then leant forward to the clerk of the court.
“Are there any more cases on the list?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
“No, my lord,” said the clerk of the court. “This is the last of them.”
“Good,” said the judge. He sat up and peered at Adrian. “There is just one more thing,” he said. “I wonder if you could see your way to accede me a minor request?”
“Certainly, my lord,” said Adrian.
“I would very much like to see the elephant in question,” said the judge, adding shyly, “you see I have never seen an elephant.”
“Certainly, my lord,” said Adrian. “I am going to go and tell her the good news now, if your lordship would like to join me.”
“Splendid,” squeaked the judge. “I will meet you outside in a few minutes, Mr. Rookwhistle.”
He leapt out of his chair as the court rose, and scuttled out of his door.
Adrian stepped out of the dock feeling slightly dazed and was ushered out of the court on a wave of good-will, Sir Magnus holding him by one arm and Lord Fenneltree holding him by the other, while Mr. Filigree and Ethelbert danced about getting in everybody’s way. They all ended up on the pavement outside the court and there was Samantha. She smiled at Adrian.
“I’m delighted you got off,” she said.
“Are you really?” said Adrian.
“Yes,” she said.
Adrian stood staring at her great, green, gold-flecked eyes and felt himself going red to the roots of his hair.
“I . . . I’m very glad that you’re glad,” he said inanely.
For some reason Samantha was blushing too.
“Yes, I’m very glad,” she said.
“When you have driven that point home sufficiently,” said Sir Magnus, “I would suggest that we all repair to my place to have a celebratory drink.”
“Sir Magnus,” said Samantha, “we are really most grateful to you for having got Adrian and Rosy off like that.”
“Nonsense,” said Sir Magnus. “A mere bagatelle.”
“You know,” said Lord Fenneltree, “I cannot help feeling that I didn’t contribute very much to your defence.”
Ethelbert was convulsed with laughter to such an extent that he had to be held up by Honoria.
“I think, dear boy,” said Lord Fenneltree, “I think, if you don’t mind, I will come along with you for a few days wherever you are going. It will give my wife a little time to collect her thoughts.”
“Well, I know where I’m going,” said Adrian suddenly, with decision, “I am going back to the Unicorn and Harp— if the owners will have me.”
“And Rosy?” said Mr. Filigree anxiously. “You will bring Rosy, won’t you?”
“If I may,” said Adrian, looking at Samantha.
“I think we can find room for you,” said Samantha.
“I suppose it isn’t possible that you would have a small inglenook that I could occupy for a brief period?” said Lord Fenneltree, staring at Samantha earnestly through his monocle.
“I tell you what,” said Mr. Filigree, squeaking with excitement at the thought. “Why don’t we all go back there? There’s plenty of room for everyone and we could have a party.”
“What a very excellent idea,” said Sir Magnus.
“The Sploshport Queen is leaving soon,” said Lord Fenneltree. “We’ll cross on her and then I will take the ladies in my landau while you all go by train.”
“I don’t think a train’s going to carry Rosy,” said Adrian. “No, you all go on ahead and I’ll walk Rosy there.”
“Rubbish, my boy,” said Sir Magnus waving his cane. “I am on intimate terms with the station master. I’m quite sure we can get Rosy fitted up, if not in a first-class carriage, at least in some portion of the train.” At this point the judge, wearing to Adrian’s amazement a loud check suit and looking as though he had got into it by mistake, joined them. Adrian explained what the plan was and the judge blinked wistfully at Samantha.
“I suppose, Lord Turvey,” said Samantha tactfully, “you wouldn’t like to come to the Unicorn and Harp as well?”
“My dear child,” said the judge, “I would be absolutely enchanted. It so happens that I have not got to dispense justice for several days and a little rest in the country would do me a world of good.”
“Excellent,” said Sir Magnus. “It will give me an opportunity to discuss the next case with you!”
“I don’t know whether that would be very ethical,” said the judge.
“Well, there’s scarcely any point in your coming unless you are going to discuss the case with me,” said Sir Magnus.
“Well, in that case,” said the judge, “I suppose it will be all right.”
Reluctantly leaving Honoria, Black Nell and Samantha with Lord Fenneltree, Adrian, accompanied by Sir Magnus, Lord Turvey, Mr. Pucklehammer, Ethelbert and Mr. Filigree, went back to Sir Magnus’s house.
As soon as they arrived Adrian rushed to the stable and was greeted by a delighted squeal from Rosy.
“Well, you miserable, destructive, drunken creature,” he shouted affectionately, throwing his arms around her trunk and giving her a hug, “we’ve got off scot free.”
Rosy, who had not been particularly worried about the outcome of the case, nevertheless realised that Adrian was in good spirits and so she flapped her ears and squeaked again.