"Mortimer, John Clifford - Rumpole 01d - Rumpole and the Married Lady" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mortimer John)

'As your lawyer, Norman, I can only see one way out for you. A full confession to your Mum and Dad.' He bit hard into the second doughnut, seriously considering the possibility.

'And one more word of advice, Norman. Settle for being a chartered accountant. You've got absolutely no talent for crime.' My old friend George was extremely angry with me when Norman confessed and the Thripps were re-united. We lost all our refreshers, he told me, just because I had to behave like a damned detective. I explained to him that I couldn't resist using the skills I had learnt in the great Brighton fraud case, and he told me to stick to crime in the future.

'You Rumpole,' said George severely, 'have absolutely buggered up the work in the Family Division.' Further surprises were in store. When I got back to the mansions in search of the poached egg and the lonely bed, I found Hilda's case in the hall and She, apparently just arrived and still in her overcoat, installed wearily in her chair by the simulated coals of our electric fire.

'Rumpole!' 'What's the matter? Fallen out with Dodo? Had a bit of a scene over a drop scone?' 'You're home early. Daddy was never back home at three o'clock in the afternoon. He always stayed in Chambers till six o'clock. Regular as clockwork. Every day of his life."

'My divorce collapsed under me.' I lit a small cigar. Hilda rose and started to make the room shipshape, a long neglected task.

'You're going to seed, Rumpole. You hang about at home in the mornings.' 'And you know why my divorce collapsed?' I thought I should tell her.

'If I'm not here to keep an eye on you, you'll go to seed completely.' I blew out smoke, and warmed my knees at the electric fire.

'The clients were reconciled. Because, however awful it is, however silent and unendurable, however much they may hate each other's guts and quarrel over the use of the geyser, they don't want to be alone! Isn't that strange, Hilda. They'd rather have war together than a lonely peace.' 'If I'd stayed away any longer you'd have gone to seed completely." She was throwing away The Times for a couple of weeks.

' O Woman ! in our hours of ease.' I got to my feet and gave her the snatch of Walter Scott again. ' Uncertain, coy and hard to please!' 'You'd have stayed home from Chambers all day. Doing the crossword and delving into the gin bottle.' 'And variable as the shade By the light of quivering aspens made.' I moved to the door.

'If you're going to the loo, Rumpole, try to remember to switch the light off.' ' When pain and anguish ring the brow, A ministering angel thou.' I was hah0 way down the passage when I heard She calling after me.

'It's for your own good, Rumpole. I'm telling you for your own good!'