Wig Betrayed by Charles Courtley

name only, but how did you square the clerk of the court and the magistrate?”
    â€œNo problem with the former. He’s an old mate and went along with it straightaway. As for Lorry, well, me and him go back a bit, see. He’s a nasty old bugger but I’ve got him eatin’ out of my hands these days.”
    Sarge dropped his voice to a whisper and tapped his nose.
    â€œHe lives in a large house in Hampstead. Burgled a few months back. Villain appeared here for the remand hearings before going up the road for trial at the Crown Court. Take a guess what the loot was?”
    â€œFamily silver, jewellery, that sort of thing...?”
    â€œOh yes
,
but a load of filthy books too – kinda stuff the porn squad arrest people for. Now nothing ever came out – chummy put his hands up an’ did a guilty upstairs – but I remind Lorry when he gets uppity-like that the Lord Chancellor might take a dim view of his private life!”
    The next day, I confronted Binden back at the office. Composed after his ordeal, he had the grace to thank me profusely. I decided to press my advantage.
    â€œI think you owe me a favour or two, Binden. The first is that you put the Gafford case right.”
    â€œYes, yes, all right, Courtly. If you tell Gafford to write to me
formally
, I shall find a way to advise Her Majesty to quash the original finding.”
    â€œAnd that’s not all – I want to start sitting again.”
    â€œNow
that
I can’t resolve, Courtley.” Peascod’s head began to wobble. “The Army Board is still investigating the matter. It’s simply not within my remit. I explained that to you before.”
    Despite further protestations, he refused to budge so now it was time to take the matter further myself. Thus I arranged to meet up with Rex Huggins, now a Lord Justice of Appeal and my old pupil master. For old time’s sake, we met at Tom Tug’s Wine Bar, the barristers’ watering hole, which was situated near the law courts in the Strand. Contentedly sipping glasses of fizz, we began to recall the past.
    â€œThe very last time I was in here was when I was appointed a judge, Charles – a few years ago now.”
    â€œDon’t I remember! It was the day of the QCs’ appointments too and poor old Dan Rydehope walked in knowing that they were never going to appoint him now. What insouciance that man had!”
    Rex nodded.
    â€œComing in when the new silks were celebrating – that took some courage, I must admit. Mind you, who am I to talk? I never applied at all, but became a boring old judge instead!”
    â€œCome on Rex.”
    I knew him to be highly regarded in the Court of Appeal and rumour had it that he might even land up as a law lord. Rex was in a teasing mood.
    â€œWell, I chose a different path but you might have taken silk yourself in time, instead of becoming a military man!”
    I could not help but rise to the bait.
    â€œBut that’s the whole point, Rex. I’m
not
in the military but they are acting as if I
am
which is why I’ve asked to see you.”
    I told him my sorry tale.
    â€œThis is absolutely outrageous, Charlie. It’s a matter you should raise with the Lord Chief Justice without delay!”
    â€œHow do I do that? I’ve never met him.”
    â€œGo and see him immediately and ask for his help as a fellow judge. Indeed, I’ll tell him all about it in advance, and tip off his clerk as well, so ring him to make an appointment straightaway – I’ll give you the extension now.”
    * * *
    â€œAh yes, Mr Courtley, Lord Justice Huggins said that you would be ringing. Yes, the chief will see you the day after tomorrow in the morning.” The clerk told me later.
    â€œWhat time should I come in?”
    â€œNine forty-five? That’s the best time. The court doesn’t sit until ten thirty but the chief is always in by then.”
    Originally I intended to