"While you were in Larborough did you meet Betty Kane?"
"Yes."
"How did you meet her?"
"She picked me up."
There was an instant and concerted protest from the body of the court. Whatever discrediting Rose Glyn and her ally had suffered, Betty Kane was still sacrosanct. Betty Kane, who looked so much like Bernadette, was not to be spoken of lightly.
The judge rebuked them for the demonstration, involuntary though it had been. He also rebuked witness. He was not quite clear, he inferred, what "picking up" involved and would be grateful if the witness would confine himself to standard English in his replies.
"Will you tell the Court just how you did meet her," Kevin said.
"I had dropped into the Midland lounge for tea one day, and she-er-began to talk to me. She was having tea there."
"Alone?"
"Quite alone."