“Yes. You said it was open and shut …”

The lawyer laughed. “Yes, open and shut from the prosecution’s point of view.”

Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni looked incredulous. “But he’s not guilty. They cannot convict him if he did not do it.”

The lawyer tapped the side of his nose; it was a curious gesture that Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni could not quite interpret. “Oh, Mr. Mechanic, I’m afraid that they all do it. All these people who appear in court say, ‘I did not do it.’ But usually they did.” He tapped his nose again. “I haven’t had anybody come to me and say, ‘I did it, Rra.’ Not one. So I ask myself: If none of these people did it, then who did? Can you tell me? No, I didn’t think you would be able to.” He sighed. “But I’ll do my best for this young man. I’ll try to get them to give him a suspended sentence, although that depends on which magistrate gets the case. Some of those fellows have got very bad tempers. You never know.”

Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni did not tell Fanwell of this exchange. All he did was to tell him that he had secured the services of a lawyer, and that the lawyer had assured him that he would do his best. Charlie, who was with Fanwell at the time, clapped his hands together and did one of those impromptu dances that he performed to mark pieces of good news. “Ace!” he exclaimed. “You hear that, Fanwell? A big-shot lawyer. Very smart.”

“Good,” said Fanwell. “I am very lucky then.”

Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni looked away. He wondered whether he should try to get another lawyer, but he had already paid a substantial amount as a retainer, and he would probably lose that if he tried to change. Perhaps it was best to have a lawyer who was realistic—after all, one would not want one who showed unfounded optimism in the face of bleak prospects.

Mma Ramotswe did her best to comfort Fanwell, telling him of the character reference she was preparing and assuring him that justice was bound to be done. For the most part, though, she left the Fanwell affair to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni; the apprentice had always been his responsibility, and it seemed that he was doing all that was required to see Fanwell through this. Her mind was more taken up with the issue of Mma Potokwane’s dismissal. She made a point of going out to the orphan farm each day to speak to her friend and to encourage her to challenge the dismissal.

“I’ve already done that,” said Mma Potokwane. “I have written to the board, but they say that they cannot consider my letter until the next meeting, which will be in two weeks’ time. Until then, there is nothing I can do.”