63. The third day of the Case.

The suit against Sir Montague Fellowes was winding up - the defence once again offered a settlement, more desperate than the first but once again it was rejected.

For their part the defence's argument was that Sir Montague Fellowes had done nothing untoward, and that his acquisition of my property with the intent to sell it on to the canal company - a company of which he was a share-holder - was a common practice. Dodgson's decision to sell the properties to Sir Montague had been his own decision and his alone, in fact, they said, he had been the originator of the scheme, and Fellowes had only participated because Alfred had pressured him. It was a good attempt at a defence, especially as Dodgson could not defend himself.

However, Sir Montague was then cross-examined by our barrister, Mr Black. Using the affidavit from Emily as a basis, he questioned Fellowes about the pressure he applied upon Dodgson to acquire the three farms. Fellowes twisted and turned, and his lawyer attempted to argue the evidence from the affidavit again, until the judge shut him down. With Dodgson's records of the moneys that he owed to people and Fellowes in particular, Sir Montague was eventually constrained to answer the questions truthfully.

The judge concluded that our case was well made, and proven. He advised Sir Montague that he was torn between a large fine or a spell in prison. After some consideration, he elected to levvy a fine on Mr Fellowes. The amount was set at eight thousand pounds to be paid by a specific date. This was four times the amount of their most recent offer to us, and I saw Fellowes turn pale as the amount was announced. I assumed that that meant that it was close to the limits of his purse.

Mr Langton agreed with me. He told me that while Fellowes had many business connections, he suffered, as many such men did, by having little actual money.

Most of the money from the fine, I had already earmarked for the Dodgson's, Emily and her daughters, as a reparation for the loss of the girls' father, and an insurance for the future. If there was any left over, it would go to relief for the families whose tenancies had been disrupted with the transfer of the properties. Any remaining monies would be used for relief of the poor of Rogeringham parish.

The date set for payment was a month hence, though Fellowes said that he would appeal the ruling. This was of no matter as he would have to pay the fine first, and then appeal the penalty, I agreed though with Mr Langton to hold the payment, if we received it - we were neither of us certain that he would make it - until after any appeal.