Hussein I wouldn’t dream of doing so, Sir James, especially as we have met before.
Barrington And when, pray, was that?
Hussein It was just over a year ago, when you were chairman of the Bar Council and addressed the Anglo-Indian Society - of which I have the honour of being Secretary.
Barrington And how many people were present on that occasion.
Hussein Just over three hundr
ed.
Barrington Just over three hundred.
Hussein Yes, but we did sit next to each other during dinner. At the time you left the Society in no doubt that you felt most Indians ran corner shops and you thought it amusing that you were still unable to tell one from another. However, I would not ask Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to consider that as evidence of anything.
Barrington I’m delighted that we’ve finally found something we can agree on, Mr Hussein, because convicting Mr Sherwood will depend on substantiated evidence, and not on the arm’s-length opinion of an unqualified chemist. No further questions, My Lord.
Judge Do you wish to re-examine, Mr Kersley?
Kersley Yes, thank you My Lord. I do have one question for Dr Hussein … I beg your pardon, My Lord … Mr Hussein, may I ask you why you were so willing to assist the police in their enquiries, even agreeing to appear in this case as a Crown witness?
Hussein To do one’s duty as a good citizen and respect the law is the British way, Mr Kersley. Or that’s what Sir James assured us when he delivered his lecture to the Anglo-Indian Society last year.
Kersley No more questions, My Lord.
Judge Thank you Mr Hussein, you may leave the witness box. (Hussein leaves the witness box and passes in front of Kersley.).
Kersley (aside to Hussein) Dr Hussein, you’re wasted on the medical profession - you should have joined us at the Bar.
Hussein Oh, no, Mr Kersley, I’m far too honest to make a success of your chosen profession.
Judge You may call your next witness, Mr Kersley.
Kersley Thank you, My Lord. I call Professor Alistair Forsyth.
Usher Call Alistair Forsyth.
Guard Alistair Forsyth.
Professor Forsyth is a Scot of around fifty-five to sixty, very formal and slightly pompom. He enters the courtroom and goes straight to the witness box. He takes the card in his right hand, as if he has been through the process many times before. He does not wait for the Usher to instruct him.
Forsyth I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Kersley Professor, I would like to establish with the jury the particular expertise you bring to this case. (Forsyth nods.) You were educated at Edinburgh Academy, from where you won a scholarship to Cambridge to read medicine?
Forsyth Yes, Mr Kersley, that is correct.
Kersley At Cambridge you graduated with honours in Pharmacology and went on to do research for an MD?
Forsyth That is also correct.
Kersley On completing your MD, you took up a Fellowship at King’s College, London, where you continued your research. May I enquire what your specialist subject was?
Forsyth Toxicology, the study of poisons.
Kersley You were offered the Chair of Toxicology at London University, and you have since written several books on the subject, which are acknowledged as the recognised text for any student reading for a medical degree?
Forsyth Only three of my works are set texts, Mr Kersley. The rest of them would be far beyond the understanding of the average undergraduate.