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Billy was not going to let Evans pretend to be benevolent. He said: "And my advice to you is to leave now and have nothing more to do with this kangaroo court. When the news gets out-and believe you me, this is going to be on the front page of the Daily Mirror-you will find that you're the one in disgrace, not me. " He looked at Murray. "Every man who had anything to do with this farce is going to be disgraced. "
Evans looked troubled. Clearly he had not thought there might be publicity.
"Enough!" said Fitz loudly and angrily.
Good, Billy thought; I've got his goat already.
Fitz went on: "Let's have the evidence, please, Captain Murray. "
Murray opened a folder and took out a sheet of paper. Billy recognized his own handwriting. It was, as he expected, a letter to Ethel.
Murray showed it to him and said: "Did you write this letter?"
Billy said: "How did it come to your attention, Captain Murray?"
Fitz barked: "Answer the question!"
Billy said. "You went to Eton school, didn't you, Captain? A gentleman would never read someone else's mail, or so we're told. But as I understand it, only the official censor has the right to examine soldiers' letters. So I assume this was brought to your attention by the censor. " He paused. As he expected, Murray was unwilling to answer. He went on: "Or was the letter obtained illegally?"
Murray repeated: "Did you write this letter?"
"If it was obtained illegally, then it can't be used in a trial. I think that's what a lawyer would say. But there are no lawyers here. That's what makes this a kangaroo court. "
"Did you write this letter?"
"I will answer that question when you have explained how it came into your possession. "
Fitz said: "You can be punished for contempt of court, you know. "
I'm already facing the death penalty, Billy thought; how stupid of Fitz to think he can threaten me! But he said: "I am defending myself by pointing out the irregularity of the court and the illegality of the prosecution. Are you going to forbid that. . . sir?"
Murray gave up. "The envelope is marked with a return address and the name of Sergeant Billy Williams. If the accused wishes to claim he did not write it, he should say so now. "
Billy said nothing.
"The letter is a coded message," Murray went on. "It may be decoded by reading every third word, and the initial capital letters of titles of songs and films. " Murray handed the letter to Evans. "When so decoded, it reads as follows. "
Billy's letter described the incompetence of the Kolchak regime, saying that despite all their gold they had failed to pay the staff of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and so were continuing to have supply and transport problems. It also detailed the help the British army was trying to give. The information had been kept secret from the British public, who were paying for the army and whose sons were risking their lives.
Murray said to Billy: "Do you deny sending this message?"
"I cannot comment on evidence that has been obtained illegally. "
"The addressee, E. Williams, is in fact Mrs. Ethel Leckwith, leader of the 'Hands Off Russia' campaign, is she not?"
"I cannot comment on evidence that has been obtained illegally. "
"Have you written previous coded letters to her?"
Billy said nothing.
"And she has used the information you gave her to generate hostile newspaper stories bringing discredit on the British army and imperiling the success of our actions here. "
"Certainly not," said Billy. "The army has been discredited by the men who sent us on a secret and illegal mission without the knowledge or consent of Parliament. The 'Hands Off Russia' campaign is the necessary first step in returning us to our proper role as the defenders of Great Britain, rather than the private army of a little conspiracy of right-wing generals and politicians. "
Fitz's chiseled face was red with anger, Billy saw to his great satisfaction. "I think we've heard enough," Fitz said. "The court will now consider its verdict. " Murray murmured something, and Fitz said: "Oh, yes. Does the accused have anything to say?"
Billy stood up. "I call as my first witness Colonel the Earl Fitzherbert. "
