Alvin grinned at her. “Just didn’t want this to turn into a love feast. Not while my lawyer here is trying to burn down the barn to kill the fleas.”

Verily’s face darkened. “It’s not ‘fleas’ when innocent people die, and others become perjurers out of fear.”

“How much justice will be done when judges go striking down laws whenever some lawyer gives them half an excuse?”

“That’s theory,” said Verily. “When the practice of the law leads to injustice, then the law must change.”

“That’s what Parliament is for,” said Alvin. “And the assembly.”

“What politician would dare announce that he was in favor of witchcraft?”

The argument might have gone on, but at that moment the door of the courtroom opened and Hezekiah Study came in. He gave no greeting, but stalked down the aisle straight to a chair directly behind the defense table. He spoke only to Verily Cooper.

“Don’t do it,” said Hezekiah Study.

“Don’t do what?”

“Don’t take on the witchers,” he said. “Try the case. Or better yet, if your client really has the knack he’s charged with, shed the chains and begone with you.”

Only then did Hezekiah notice the manacle lying warped and deformed in Alvin’s lap. Alvin grinned at him and mashed the last hunk of bread and cheese into his mouth all at once.

“Pardon me, sir, but who are you?” asked Verily Cooper.

“This is Reverend Study,” said Purity. “He advised me not to charge Alvin with witchcraft. I wish I’d listened to him then.”

“You’ll wish you had listened to me now,” said Hezekiah.

“The law is on my side,” said Verily.

“No, it isn’t,” said Hezekiah. “Nothing is on your side.”

“Sir, I know my case, and I know the law.”

“So did I,” said Hezekiah. “I tried the same strategy.”

Now Verily was interested. “You’re a lawyer, sir?”

“I was a lawyer. I gave it up and became a minister.”

“But you lost a witch trial, I take it?”

“I tried to use the strict reading you’re going for,” said Hezekiah. “I tried to show that the testimony of the witcher was tainted. Everything you’re doing.”

“And it failed?” asked Verily.

“What do you do,” asked Hezekiah, “when the witcher calls you to the stand?”

Verily stared at him in silence.

“The witcher can call my lawyer?” asked Alvin.

“It’s ecclesiastical law,” said Hezekiah. “The law is older than advocacy. There is no privilege unless you’re an ordained minister.”

“So they called you,” said Purity. “But what did you say?”

“I could only tell the truth,” said Hezekiah. “I had seen my clients use their knacks. Harmless! A gift of God, I said it, but there was my testimony.” Tears flowed down his cheeks. “That’s what hanged them.”

Purity was weeping also. “What were their knacks?”

“Who?” asked Alvin.

“My mother and father,” said Purity, looking at Hezekiah for confirmation.

He nodded and looked away.

“What did they die for?” asked Purity. “What was their crime?”