“Yes, Mr. Mason. And suppose I can’t get a stipulation?”
“Then you’ll have to get a court order,” Mason said.
“Just how will I go about doing that?”
Sergeant Holcomb said, “Come on. You’ll have a chance to telephone her after the D.A. gets done with you.”
“This is an important matter,” Mason said. “I can’t let the case go by default.”
“Well, you can telephone her. Come on. We haven’t got all day. The D.A. is waiting.”
Mason said to Gertie, “Simply explain the circumstances to the presiding judge. Now in the case of Hortense versus Wiltfong, you’ll have to give back the retainer. Explain to Mr. Hortense that I’m going to be unable to handle his case. That’s not to be done unless I fail to return by five o’clock, or…”
Sergeant Holcomb moved toward Mason. “My God, you don’t have to dictate memoranda covering your whole practice… Say, what are you doing, sparring for time?”
Mason said, “That’s all, Gertie… Come on, gentlemen.”