Sophie's Treason. Beverley Boissery

wondered if another scolding lay in store for her when they went home. After Mr. Christie resumed his conversation with Luc, Sophie whispered to Lady Theo, “I hope you don’t mind — about Mr. Christie, that is. He’s been kind to us.”

      “It’s fine, child. I’m not upset with you.”

      But you are upset, Sophie thought. “Did you find out anything new about Papa?”

      She bit her lips when she realized that her whispered question had captured Mr. Christie’s attention, and turned to Lady Theo with an apprehensive shrug. “Mr. Christie’s a lawyer. Maybe he can help us.”

      Lady Theo’s mouth thinned into a polite smile. “I doubt it.”

      Mr. Christie looked embarrassed. “I’m not aware of your problem, my lady. If it has a legal nature or is something to do with the current political state, I’d like to offer my services. I’m in a unique position, you see. Beholden to no one. I’ve retired from my practice in the city of Quebec. Furthermore, I have no aspirations to be a judge or to go further in my profession. This means I’m answerable to no one, my lady.”

      He broke off for a moment and seemed to consider what he was going to say carefully. “If your problem concerns the events of the past month, I understand that legal representation might be difficult to obtain, things being the way they are. No one wants to go against the government. At the moment, its powers seem limitless. Two judges have already been punished for deciding a case according to the law instead of the governor’s command. And, of course, there’s the future. Governments seem to have long memories and can affect a man’s livelihood as well as his career.”

      As he shrugged, Sophie wondered what he meant. Her papa had always grumbled about governments’ short memories, but Lady Theo nodded in agreement.

      That small nod of her head seemed to encourage Mr. Christie, for he continued. “What I meant, my lady, is that the government cannot intimidate me. I have nothing to lose. So if I could be of service, I’d be delighted to help.”

      Lady Theo looked at him carefully, and Sophie could see her thinking something over. After a few seconds she smiled. “Well, sir, if you can explain why habeas corpus doesn’t work in this city, I’d be grateful.”

      At the question, Mr. Christie’s face lit up. “My lady, the whole issue of habeas corpus has become very murky indeed this past year.”

      “So I’ve gathered,” Lady Theo said dryly.

      Sophie and Luc stared at each other in total incomprehension. “What’s habeas whatever?” Luc asked.

      Mr. Christie cleared his throat. It was Lady Theo, though, who after a quick look at her watch, rushed to answer. “What it means in England, Luc, is that if someone is arrested, his family has to be told what prison he is in or where he is.”

      “You mean….” Sophie suddenly understood why Lady Theo looked so angry and frustrated. She must have been trying to get the lawyers to use this habeas thing to find out where her papa was, and they couldn’t do it. But before she could finish her question, Lady Theo rose from the table.

      “It’s time we headed back to the courtroom,” she announced, putting a hand on Luc’s shoulder. “Are you prepared for this?”

      “I can’t wait, my lady. I’m positive that Marc will get off.”

      When he nonchalantly flicked a speck of dust from his jacket, Sophie felt afraid. She could easily see that he believed the afternoon court session would be just as trivial as that speck. As he led the way back to the courthouse, he swaggered, and Sophie became even more frightened for him and his brother.

       The Loon stared into the mirror Sister Marie-Josephte handed him.