Two Coins: A Biographical Novel (Women of Determination and Courage)

“Did a lady ever visit you at your house?” Mr. Trevelyan asks.

“I’ve had several visits from a lady.” Mr. Hastie pauses. “Actually, no, very seldom. Perhaps two or three times.”

“Well, which is it?” Mr. Trevelyan asks patiently.

Mr. Hastie looks at the ceiling. “In the past four and a half years, I only remember one lady visiting.”

“And, when a lady visits you, is it an impropriety?” Mr. Trevelyan asks.

“I’ve never had a visit I’d call improper,” Mr. Hastie says.

“Is it the mode of the visit that makes it improper?”

Mr. Hastie glances in my direction. “It is the mode of the visit, the frequency of the visits, or anything which would cause an unfavorable opinion. I allege nothing about these visits to Mr. Wilson, except that they occurred.”

Justice Norris breaks in. “But you allege Miss Pigot disregarded every mark of external propriety.”

“Yes, My Lord.” Mr. Hastie looks up. “I regarded the visits as improper.”

“Why were they improper?” Mr. Trevelyan asks.

“In the first place, they were unnecessary,” Mr. Hastie says.