The Gentleman & The Rake

Day One Continued

Cross-Examination 

 Judge Hardcastle said, "Reading a person's correspondence is a gross invasion of privacy."

The CLF team clucked in vigorous agreement. 

"Servants have no right to privacy," Mr. B said. 

The judge frowned. Leslie Quinn said quickly, "The American concept of rights, specifically the right to free speech, wasn't a norm in Mr. B's culture. Not for servants. It certainly never would have occurred to Pamela to sue Mr. B or to contact the police." 

"I was the police," said Mr. B. 

"Barbaric," Gary declared. "He belittled her right to privacy and her right to her own sexual identity." 

The judge had no idea what the CLF professor was babbling about until Lonquist said, "Are you actually going to argue that Pamela is a lesbian?" 

The CLF psychologist, Mr. Hatch, said, "I don't think that's very plausible, Gary." 

"Bisexual," Gary said weakly. 

The judge glanced at Mr. B, anticipating outrage or, at least, befuddlement. (Would an eighteenth-century man understand twenty-first century, uh, flexibilities?) Mr. B had shifted to stare up at the courtroom windows where noontime light sparkled off the panes. 

Lonquist said, "I don't imagine lesbianism was a generally established custom--" 

"Not as a cultural trend," Mr. B said to the windows; his mouth twitched. 

Gary said sullenly, "I would think some contemporary standards would be accepted as givens--in a civilized courtroom, at least." 

"Which contemporary standards?" Lonquist said. "Based on twenty-first century Western culture, Mr. B can hardly be faulted for wanting no-strings-attached sex." 

That did startle Mr. B. Mr. Shorter clucked. 

The judge barked, "We will use the standard of customs as established in the eighteenth century. Was lesbianism a discussed topic in the literature of the day?" 

Dr. Matchel said, "It was a forbidden topic that nevertheless underscored most women's writings." 

Leslie Quinn said, "No." 

Dr. Matchel bridled. "Of course, popular non-fiction ignores such crucial subtexts." 

Leslie Quinn said good-humoredly, "Oh, I'm not saying that homosexuality wasn't an aspect of eighteenth-century England or that people never discussed it. There isn't a sexual topic that wasn't discussed in the eighteenth century. I just don't think all literature everywhere is imbued with hidden messages about the love that dare not speak its name. People do write about other things, you know." 

"They were prejudiced," Gary said. 

"So you'll use eighteenth-century culture to promote your position, then attack it to defend your position?" 

The CLF team glared at Lonquist. Mr. B turned back to the windows. 

The judge waved a hand. "I'm not concerned with critical theory relativism. I want to know how Mr. B behaved. Please continue, sir." 

 Mr. B's Testimony Corresponding to Letters XIV-XV 

I was away from the Bedfordshire estate for two weeks--I had business in Kent and London--but I was still annoyed with Pamela when I returned from visiting my daughter. 

 Cross-Examination 

Mr. Hatch, exclaimed, "Your daughter!?" and flipped through his notes.