Dada 136

They got the caretaker to repeat what he had said about coffee and the amount of cigarettes I smoked. The prosecutor turned to me again with a gloating look in his eyes. He smoothed down his robe like a surgeon about to operate. My counsel then asked the caretaker if he had not enjoyed a cigarette with me but the prosecutor drew himself high with indignation. His face twisted in a sneer, ‘I’d like to know who is on trial in this court. Or does my friend think that by some form of propinquity a witness for the prosecution might be coerced into speaking for the defence, that he will shake the evidence, the abundant and cogent evidence that is against his client ?’ None the less the judge told him to answer the question. The old feller fidgeted a bit then said, ‘Well I know I oughtn't to have done it’ he mumbled, but I did take a ciggie off him just to share a moment of companionship like’ The judge asked me to comment, ‘ Yes your honour’ I said, ‘ I did offer a cigarette, it seemed right to share at that time.’ The caretaker looked at me with a sort of gratitude, than after humming and hawing for a bit suggested that it was he and his wife who had offered me a coffee. My lawyer was exultant, ‘The jury will appreciate, he said’ the importance of this admission’ The prosecutor was on his feet again, ‘Quite so ‘he boomed, ‘but why didn’t the accused keep his cigarettes in his pockets and refuse a café’ out of his own sense of decency for the dead. Any person of common decency should have refused it. This prisoner ,as I will demonstrate, does not respect the decencies of life nor the laws of this nation.’ I thought he looked ridiculous.