too bad, though, that you forgot you were born in Galvey and imagined it was Springfield, no doubt due to the similarity of names.
"That is all." Clive Reardon turned to the Judge. "Your Honor, I rest my case."
Phil Gould rose to his feet. "Your Honor, I will try to summon my witnesses and end this case as quickly as possible. I ask the indulgence of the court if I appear to be too abrupt. With the consent of the court I wish to summon Blackie Gray back to the stand."
Blackie returned to the box.
"I meant to ask you whether you ever threatened to extort money from the defendant?" said Gould softly.
Blackie swallowed once or twice. "I tried to borrow some," he reluctantly admitted.
"And you failed because Madame would not pay blackmail. Is that not correct?"
"No, it is untrue."
"Reflect that you are under oath and liable to be prosecuted for perjury. Now would you like to change your answer?"
"No, I never blackmailed anybody."
"Did Madame like you?"
"She hated me."
"Did you like her?"
"I should say not."
"So that it can truthfully be said you were enemies?"
"And how!"
"That is not an answer."
"At least it is impressive," smiled the Judge.
"It is, quite. Is it not rather odd that you went to an enemy to borrow money?"
"No, she was rich."
"I see, and you imagined it would be quite easy to get money from a rich enemy if you were persuasive enough."
"Yes, as a loan."
"Of course. We concede it was a loan."
Phil Gould scratched his chin. "That's all," he said.
"No questions," said Clive Reardon.
154
