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as releasing a torrent of foul language that no customer should have to be subjected to.”
    “I heard what Mr. Delderfield reported,” said Mrs. Keogh. “But I don’t know how he can say for certain it was foul language. When they’re upset the boys sometimes speak Dutch or Yiddish. Mr. Delderfield could have misunderstood what was said. Jan thought his brother, to whom he is most attached, was being threatened.”
    At this point, the manager, who had returned to his place on the bench, jumped up. He gave a little wave in the magistrate’s direction.
    “Yes, Mr. Delderfield?”
    “Beg pardon, your worship, but I beg to differ with this lady. There is no doubt that the words the one lad was using were pure Anglo Saxon. I can repeat them, if you wish.”
    “No, I do not wish,” said Desmond. “We won’t sully the ears of this court.” He wiped his sore nose, which was getting redder by the minute.
    “Mrs. Keogh, what is your response to what Mr. Delderfield just said?”
    “It is possible. Their first foster home was not the best. They did hear words that are not acceptable in polite society. I have been talking to them about this.”
    “It doesn’t appear to have sunk in,” said the magistrate irritably.
    She shrugged. “In the excitement of the moment, I presume Jan resorted to some old habits. As we all might do.”
    Desmond shuffled his papers as if would have liked to shake her out of them. Hare stroked his moustache.
    “The older boy seems to be the leader. Perhaps it would be better if they were separated as being together seems so easily inflammatory.”
    Tyler saw Mrs. Keogh inhale deeply.
Don’t lose your temper, lady. You won’t get anywhere with this moron if you do
.
    To his surprise, she turned her head and her eyes met his. Whatever he was conveying, it seemed to help her, and when she spoke again her voice was less belligerent.
    “I assure you, your worship, any separation of these two boys would be disastrous. To all intents and purposes they are orphans. The only family they have in the world is each other.”
    Tyler had the feeling that Desmond was not going to be swayed by any appeal to the milk of human kindness. He was right.
    “That is all very well, madam, but these young hooligans who have been dropped in our laps must learn that they are in decent society here, even if it is not what they are used to. Who is going to pay for the damages and expenses incurred by Woolworth’s?”
    “I would assume that an American company as large as Woolworth’s would have allowances for a certain amount of breakage, but, given the circumstances, I myself will cover the cost to replace the china that was destroyed.”
    Desmond sniffed. “What guarantee do we have that these boys will not reoffend in perhaps an even more violent way? According to you, they have come from a situation that might in itself have affected the balance of their minds.”
    Another deep breath.
    Hold on
.
    “Shall I remind your worship that we are talking about a boy of fourteen and a boy of ten? We can hardly determine that they are unbalanced, no matter what unimaginable experiences they have gone through. They have both expressed muchcontrition over what happened in Woolworth’s. I’m sure it will not happen again.”
    Although, with much effort, she had kept her voice even, her contempt for the magistrate was palpable.
    “We can’t just sweep this incident under the carpet.”
    Tyler had had enough. He got to his feet.
    “May I address the court?”
    Desmond didn’t look too happy but he nodded. Tyler approached the bench.
    “Excuse me, your worships, but perhaps I could offer a solution here.”
    “Yes, what is it, Inspector?”
    “I would like to suggest we remand the case.”
    “Not again. This is getting to be repetitious.”
    “I don’t think so, your worship. These are very different situations. If you will release the boys back to the care of Mrs. Keogh, I will personally take it upon myself to