The Gentleman & The Rake

Day Three: Mr. B vs. Committee for Literary Fairness

Mr. B found he was tapping his feet and leaned forward, pressing his arms against his knees.

Of course, the CLF had brought up the attempted rape. It was not the biggest problem he and Pamela had ever faced, but he understood how it appeared to the outside world.

He knew, without Mr. Shorter's advice, that he needed to tread carefully. Pleading age and inexperience would not impress the judge-or bring Pamela back to him. Pleading incompetence would offend even his supporters.

Mr. Shorter came in, carrying a bagel and cup of coffee. He received a small stipend in courthouse dollars for his work as a "legal aid," which he spent on modern "delicacies." Mr. B would bet Mr. Shorter was already wondering who else he could represent from the novel in this so-called "real life."

"There's a letter about us in a non-fictional newspaper," Mr. Shorter said.

Mr. B already knew that. Before Mr. Shorter arrived, he'd heard the librarian, Lonquist, and the historian, Leslie Quinn, gleefully discussing it. Apparently, it castigated the CLF as "citizens of low repute who deign to disrupt the holy sacrament of marriage."

Mr. B said, "I don't like scandal sheets."

"If the newspapers are on our side-"

"Neither does Pamela."

Mr. Shorter shrugged.

A dark-haired young woman wearing a press pass entered the courtroom and sat behind Leslie Quinn. Mr. B glanced at her disinterestedly.

"Hi," he heard her say to the historian, "I'm Deborah. I just learned about the Pamela hearing-there was a letter in the newspaper. Oh, there's Mr. B. Is she here?"

"The CLF stuck her in Herland."

"Wow-why?"

"Isn't it the ultimate feminist training ground?" Lonquist said. "Perhaps, Pamela will want to stay there."

Mr. B crossed his arms and glared at the table top.

"Oh, no," Deborah said blithely. "She and Mr. B are soul mates."

"The young lady reviews romance novels," Mr. Shorter told Mr. B. "Stories about love-not stories about knights."

"I don't live in a love novel," Mr. B said, but he hoped Deborah was right about him and Pamela.

* * *

Judge Hardcastle had seen the editorial in the City Gazette denigrating the CLF as had the CLF team; it was in a snit.

"The media has been co-opted by reactionaries," Gary cried.

Judge Hardcastle ignored him. He also turned down Dr. Matchel's request for a media blackout. He had no problems with the First Amendment. Media commentary was irritating but rarely intrusive. If it did become intrusive it was only because other people wouldn't shut up about it.

He wanted to deal with the rape or seduction or whatever it was. He turned to Mr. B and Mr. Shorter. "I can't ignore this part of the novel-unless rape was an established custom in eighteenth-century literature?"

Both men hesitated.

"Not as an acceptable action," Mr. B said, and Mr. Shorter concurred.

"Then we need to address the event. Mr. B-?"

Mr. B's Testimony Corresponding to Pamela's Abduction

Week 6 (continued)

I went to church the next morning carrying a prayer message sent to me from Pamela through Mrs. Jewkes: "The prayers of this congregation are earnestly desired for a gentleman of great worth and honor who labors to ruin a poor, distressed, worthless maiden," it read.