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.'‘I have a witness,' Haggard said.Then shall I repeat it, for the benefit of your witness?''Sir,' Haggard said, ‘I respect your motives, as you wish to spend your life in aiding our less fortunate brethern.However, you have put yourself beyond the law, and in addition, believe me, done Middlesex no good at all by this madcap venture.Now let me see him.I promise you, no violence shall be done in your house.I merely wish to speak with my servant.''And I, sir, forbid it in my house,' Sharp said.'Oh, you are a big man, Mr.Haggard, a wealthy man, a rich man, and a most forceful personality.I doubt Middlesex would retain his courage were he to come face to face with you.''You leave me no option but to take you to law,' Haggard said.Sharp gave a brief bow.Then, sir, I look forward to seeing you in court.'Haggard stared at him for some seconds.He had never been so angry in his life; his every instinct called out for him to smash his way through this house until he found the Negro.But it was a strange anger.He did not want to flog Middlesex.He had always supposed himself a friend to his blacks, and more especially his house slaves.He did not even want to harm Sharp.He just felt like committing an act of violence upon someone or something, it did not matter who or what.But his instincts were also warning him that this was not Barbados.John Haggard was not omnipotent here, beyond the reach of the law just because he owned the largest plantation in the land.And if he was to achieve his seat in Parliament, then he must not be seen to break the law.'Be sure, sir, you shall see me in court.''How long will it take?' he asked Cummings, when the three men met over dinner in a private chamber off the tap room of the inn where MacGuinness had found him a room.‘I will begin this afternoon, Mr.Haggard,' the agent said.'You may leave it to me.I'll to a magistrate, he is a friend of mine, and have a summons made out, and deliver it before nightfall.Oh, we'll have Mr.Sharp, and the man Middlesex, in court by the end of this week, you may be sure of that.'The end of this week?' Haggard demanded.'I had not meant to remain this long.''Ah, well, sir, the wheels of justice grind slowly.But they do grind.'The devil," Haggard gazed at MacGuinness.'Then you'd best return to Derleth, MacGuinness.Report to Mistress Dearborn on what has happened, and tell her I will be back as soon as possible.''Of course, Mr.Haggard.But I cannot leave you here, without a manservant.And you've not even a change of linen.''I will procure a manservant for Mr.Haggard and some clothing,' Cummings said, indeed, sir, I would take it as a privilege if you would care to move in with me.Mistress Cummings would be more than pleased to see to your requirements.'Haggard was not sorry to move.But the Cummings lived in the city itself, a small, cramped house set on the edge of a narrow thoroughfare leading away from Threadneedle Street.The windows were small and the interior gloomy; the furniture was well worn and the smell was musty.To cap Haggard's depression, Mistress Cummings turned out to be very nearly as old as her husband, and however attractive she might once have been, she was now tall, thin, angular and a trifle brusque.'Mr.Haggard,' she said, her mouth widening into a wintry smile.'This is a privilege.'But her gaze was suspicious; no doubt Cummings had regaled her with tales of Emma.Haggard could only console himself with the thought that it was for only a few days, while Mrs.Cummings was at least an excellent cook.But, he reflected as he accompanied Cummings to court three days later, wearing a new broadcloth suit hastily run up by the agent's tailor, he could not for a moment pretend that England was in any way like his expectation of it.So what had he expected? That they would provide a guard of honour as he left the ship, that the sun would shine, that all the nobility of London would come flocking to see him, that the villagers of Derleth would line the street and wave flags as he rode through them, that Derleth Hall would turn out to be a palace, that his coal mines.but he did not know what to think about the coal mines.He did not know what he dared think of them.For some reason, whenever he remembered those naked, coal-stained girls, his breeches seemed to halve in size.And he had spent his entire life surrounded by naked humanity.He reasoned that it was just the transition which was confusingHe reasoned that it was just the transition which was confusing and upsetting him.And his precipitate flight from London.While now he had come back without notice, simply in pursuit of a runaway.It would be different once he was an MP, when he visited the city to take his place in the Commons, when his voice would be heard pronouncing on all the great issues of the day, when his new manor house was built, when Emma.but strangely he did not wish to think about Emma either at this moment.There were too many others.He must merely keep on his course, completing each step in his plan as it came upon him.And the first step was the regaining of James Middlesex, the understanding of all who came into contact with him that he was Haggard, and not to be trifled with.He gazed across the small courtroom at the black man, no longer wearing his Haggard livery, but in a suit of grey no doubt provided by Sharp, who sat beside him.'Who is the third man?" he asked Cummings.The agent was frowning.' Tis Barcroft, the attorney.''Do we need an attorney?'‘I would not have supposed so.You have but to lay claim.Now.' For the magistrate was peering at them.'Will the plaintiff stand up?'Haggard stood up.'State your name and occupation and address.' ‘I am John Haggard, late of Haggard's Penn in the island of Barbados, but now resident at Derleth Hall in Derbyshire.' 'State the charge you propose to bring.'He found himself becoming irritated by the monotonous disinterest of the voice.'My charge is very simple,' Haggard said.'Your Honour.''Eh?''You will address the bench as Your Honour, Mr.Haggard.'Definitely he should have had an attorney.Cummings was incompetent.'My charge, Your Honour,' he said, his voice slowing to that even tone which betrayed his anger, 'is that that black man over there, whose name is James Middlesex, is my slave, whom I brought from Barbados as my butler, and who ran away from Derleth Hall six days ago.He was aided in his escape by Mr.Granville Sharp, whom you see sitting next to him.I pursued my slave, but was prevented from regaining him by Mr.Sharp.I am here today, Your Honour, to obtain restitution of my lawful property.'The magistrate peered at him for a while longer, then nodded.'You may sit down, Mr.Haggard.Mr.Sharp?'Barcroft stood up.‘I represent the defendant.Your Honour.' 'Yes, Mr.Barcroft.''Your Honour.' Barcroft grasped the lapels of his coat.'My client contends that there is no charge for him to answer, by the very simple reason that slavery is not recognised in this country, therefore the man Middlesex cannot be a slave, therefore he cannot be accused of having run away from anyone.My client is prepared to admit that the man Middlesex borrowed a horse belonging to Mr.Haggard, but the animal has since been returned, and Mr.Sharp is prepared to pay a reasonable sum as rental for the animal during the two days it was away from Derleth Hall.''One moment, Mr.Barcroft,' the magistrate interrupted [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.'‘I have a witness,' Haggard said.Then shall I repeat it, for the benefit of your witness?''Sir,' Haggard said, ‘I respect your motives, as you wish to spend your life in aiding our less fortunate brethern.However, you have put yourself beyond the law, and in addition, believe me, done Middlesex no good at all by this madcap venture.Now let me see him.I promise you, no violence shall be done in your house.I merely wish to speak with my servant.''And I, sir, forbid it in my house,' Sharp said.'Oh, you are a big man, Mr.Haggard, a wealthy man, a rich man, and a most forceful personality.I doubt Middlesex would retain his courage were he to come face to face with you.''You leave me no option but to take you to law,' Haggard said.Sharp gave a brief bow.Then, sir, I look forward to seeing you in court.'Haggard stared at him for some seconds.He had never been so angry in his life; his every instinct called out for him to smash his way through this house until he found the Negro.But it was a strange anger.He did not want to flog Middlesex.He had always supposed himself a friend to his blacks, and more especially his house slaves.He did not even want to harm Sharp.He just felt like committing an act of violence upon someone or something, it did not matter who or what.But his instincts were also warning him that this was not Barbados.John Haggard was not omnipotent here, beyond the reach of the law just because he owned the largest plantation in the land.And if he was to achieve his seat in Parliament, then he must not be seen to break the law.'Be sure, sir, you shall see me in court.''How long will it take?' he asked Cummings, when the three men met over dinner in a private chamber off the tap room of the inn where MacGuinness had found him a room.‘I will begin this afternoon, Mr.Haggard,' the agent said.'You may leave it to me.I'll to a magistrate, he is a friend of mine, and have a summons made out, and deliver it before nightfall.Oh, we'll have Mr.Sharp, and the man Middlesex, in court by the end of this week, you may be sure of that.'The end of this week?' Haggard demanded.'I had not meant to remain this long.''Ah, well, sir, the wheels of justice grind slowly.But they do grind.'The devil," Haggard gazed at MacGuinness.'Then you'd best return to Derleth, MacGuinness.Report to Mistress Dearborn on what has happened, and tell her I will be back as soon as possible.''Of course, Mr.Haggard.But I cannot leave you here, without a manservant.And you've not even a change of linen.''I will procure a manservant for Mr.Haggard and some clothing,' Cummings said, indeed, sir, I would take it as a privilege if you would care to move in with me.Mistress Cummings would be more than pleased to see to your requirements.'Haggard was not sorry to move.But the Cummings lived in the city itself, a small, cramped house set on the edge of a narrow thoroughfare leading away from Threadneedle Street.The windows were small and the interior gloomy; the furniture was well worn and the smell was musty.To cap Haggard's depression, Mistress Cummings turned out to be very nearly as old as her husband, and however attractive she might once have been, she was now tall, thin, angular and a trifle brusque.'Mr.Haggard,' she said, her mouth widening into a wintry smile.'This is a privilege.'But her gaze was suspicious; no doubt Cummings had regaled her with tales of Emma.Haggard could only console himself with the thought that it was for only a few days, while Mrs.Cummings was at least an excellent cook.But, he reflected as he accompanied Cummings to court three days later, wearing a new broadcloth suit hastily run up by the agent's tailor, he could not for a moment pretend that England was in any way like his expectation of it.So what had he expected? That they would provide a guard of honour as he left the ship, that the sun would shine, that all the nobility of London would come flocking to see him, that the villagers of Derleth would line the street and wave flags as he rode through them, that Derleth Hall would turn out to be a palace, that his coal mines.but he did not know what to think about the coal mines.He did not know what he dared think of them.For some reason, whenever he remembered those naked, coal-stained girls, his breeches seemed to halve in size.And he had spent his entire life surrounded by naked humanity.He reasoned that it was just the transition which was confusingHe reasoned that it was just the transition which was confusing and upsetting him.And his precipitate flight from London.While now he had come back without notice, simply in pursuit of a runaway.It would be different once he was an MP, when he visited the city to take his place in the Commons, when his voice would be heard pronouncing on all the great issues of the day, when his new manor house was built, when Emma.but strangely he did not wish to think about Emma either at this moment.There were too many others.He must merely keep on his course, completing each step in his plan as it came upon him.And the first step was the regaining of James Middlesex, the understanding of all who came into contact with him that he was Haggard, and not to be trifled with.He gazed across the small courtroom at the black man, no longer wearing his Haggard livery, but in a suit of grey no doubt provided by Sharp, who sat beside him.'Who is the third man?" he asked Cummings.The agent was frowning.' Tis Barcroft, the attorney.''Do we need an attorney?'‘I would not have supposed so.You have but to lay claim.Now.' For the magistrate was peering at them.'Will the plaintiff stand up?'Haggard stood up.'State your name and occupation and address.' ‘I am John Haggard, late of Haggard's Penn in the island of Barbados, but now resident at Derleth Hall in Derbyshire.' 'State the charge you propose to bring.'He found himself becoming irritated by the monotonous disinterest of the voice.'My charge is very simple,' Haggard said.'Your Honour.''Eh?''You will address the bench as Your Honour, Mr.Haggard.'Definitely he should have had an attorney.Cummings was incompetent.'My charge, Your Honour,' he said, his voice slowing to that even tone which betrayed his anger, 'is that that black man over there, whose name is James Middlesex, is my slave, whom I brought from Barbados as my butler, and who ran away from Derleth Hall six days ago.He was aided in his escape by Mr.Granville Sharp, whom you see sitting next to him.I pursued my slave, but was prevented from regaining him by Mr.Sharp.I am here today, Your Honour, to obtain restitution of my lawful property.'The magistrate peered at him for a while longer, then nodded.'You may sit down, Mr.Haggard.Mr.Sharp?'Barcroft stood up.‘I represent the defendant.Your Honour.' 'Yes, Mr.Barcroft.''Your Honour.' Barcroft grasped the lapels of his coat.'My client contends that there is no charge for him to answer, by the very simple reason that slavery is not recognised in this country, therefore the man Middlesex cannot be a slave, therefore he cannot be accused of having run away from anyone.My client is prepared to admit that the man Middlesex borrowed a horse belonging to Mr.Haggard, but the animal has since been returned, and Mr.Sharp is prepared to pay a reasonable sum as rental for the animal during the two days it was away from Derleth Hall.''One moment, Mr.Barcroft,' the magistrate interrupted [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]