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course, your worship, my apologies. Well, when I returned to the shop, I saw the two boys were in one of the aisles. They didn’t see me coming up behind them. One of them was handing an object to the other, who stuffed it into his coat. I immediately asked them what they were doing. They both looked very guilty and refused to answer. I repeated the question. Again no reply. I decided to investigate for myself, but when I attempted to open the coat of the younger child, he screamed, loudly. As I tried to get a better hold of him, the other boy began to kick at me. You can see the bruises on my legs, your worship.”
    He paused again, but Desmond showed no desire to see said wounds. Delderfield continued.
    “All the time this one, the bigger of the two, was yelling the most vile obscenities. Very loud he was too. Well, in the ensuing struggle, we collided with the shelf where there was a display of china cups and saucers. They had been brought infrom London especially for Christmas sale. The shelf collapsed and most of the china was broken. I have estimated the cost to the store at between ten and twelve pounds. I would like to be reimbursed for that cost, and also to see that these young hooligans are punished. They have no business being given the freedom and privilege of wandering about our streets. It is my belief they belong in a reform school.”
    Desmond pursed his lips and addressed the clerk. “The note here says they are evacuees, and the billeting matron is here to speak on their behalf.”
    “Yes, your worship. She is in court now.” He nodded in the direction of the public bench.
    She must be the smart-looking woman in grey
, thought Tyler.
    “Call her up. I’ll hear what she has to say.”
    The clerk beckoned and the woman made her way to the witness box, stepping in through its little gate. She was taller than Tyler had first thought, and she walked straight-backed with a certain air of confidence. Not a woman to be easily intimidated, law court or no law court.
    “Please state your name and address.”
    “Mrs. Nuala Keogh. I live at number two River Close, off Lower Broad Street.” She spoke with an Irish lilt.
    Desmond frowned, as if he had a personal grudge against the Celts. “Madam, you’ve heard Mr. Delderfield’s statement, I presume.”
    “Yes, your worship. I have indeed. I have myself made a statement about the incident.”
    Desmond took a moment to blow his nose. Not a pleasant sound. “I have read that statement, madam, but in this instance I must give more credence to the evidence of Mr. Delderfield.”
    “Why is that, your worship? Perhaps you could be so good as to enlighten me.”
    Her voice was cool.
Oh dear
, thought Tyler,
this could get tricky
.
    “He was directly involved in said incident. You were not.”
    She looked as if she was about to speak, but he lifted his hand to stop her.
    “I realize you feel a certain sympathy and responsibility for these boys, madam, but we cannot tolerate such atrocious behaviour in this town. I have a good mind to send them off to a reform school where they can learn some proper manners.”
    From the flush that had suddenly appeared on Mrs. Keogh’s cheeks, Tyler thought she must have the reputed Irish temper to match her accent.
    “I don’t think so, your worship. That would not only be cruel and unusual punishment, it would also be rather stupid.”
    Desmond stared down the length of his red-tipped nose at her. “I beg your pardon, madam. Did I hear you correctly?”
    “I’m sure you did. I do not for one moment think these boys deserve to go to any such place. If you ask me, the manager overstepped his authority. He should not have grabbed ahold of the boy like that. His brother was only defending him.”
    The two court clerks were watching the proceedings with great interest. Tyler had the feeling that even in this lower court the magistrate had established a brutal authority that nobody questioned.
    “According to Mr.