“I could wet my whistle, Gert,” Glenna said,“if there was a gentleman here who could buy a lady a drink.”
“I’m Gert,” said Gert. “And this is Glenna.May we sit down?”
“By all means,” said Green.
“I’ll get you some chairs,” said Crow,lurching to his feet. He stumbled to the next empty table and slidtwo chairs up to his own table. The woman sat down with a flourishof movements designed to exhibit the more attractive parts of heranatomy.
“I’ll have a glass of claret,” said Gert.
“The same for me,” said Glenna.
Powell went over to the bar to fetch theirdrinks, a little unsteady on his feet.
“You ladies from around here?” Crowasked.
“We live near Danby’s Crossing” Gert said.“Where’re you from?”
“We’re from the township, about six mileswest of here. We’re farmers,” said Green.
“I never would’ve guessed it,” Glenna gushed.“You look like regular gentlemen to me. Gentlemen who know how totreat a lady.”
Powell came back with the wine.
“Thanks,” Gert said. “But you fellas look asif your flagons are dry. We can’t drink alone, can we, Glenna?”
“It ain’t proper,” Glenna said.
Green waved to the barkeep and orderedanother round.
“That’s better. Now we can drink a toasttogether,” said Gert.
“To the Queen!” Glenna said and raised herglass to her lips. She downed the wine in a single gulp, as didGert.
“Tastes like more,” said Glenna.
“Come on, boys. Drink up,” urged Gert.
Not to be outdone, the men chugalugged theirale.
“You hear the one about the preacher and thefarmer’s daughter?” said Glenna.
While the men blushed, Glenna proceeded totell her salacious tale. She and Gert laughed more raucously thanthe men. More drinks were ordered. More jokes were told, each moreoutrageous than the previous one. The afternoon drifted by. Greenwas the first one to lay his head upon the table and close hiseyes. The women held their own, talking and laughing the wholetime. Glenna leaned over the table at calculated intervals and letthe tops of her breasts show off their lush curvature. Powell puthis arm around Gert and she did not resist. He slumped against hershoulder, his eyes glazed.
“Looks like your pals have fallen asleep,”Glenna said to Crow. “Can’t hold their liquor.”
“I’m still awake,” Crow said, cupping hischin in his hands.
“Good for you,” Glenna said. “Here, finishoff my wine, will you? I’ve got to find the facility.”
It was at this precise moment that MarcEdwards entered the tavern. His tall bearing and gentleman’s attireimmediately attracted the attention of the bar’s patrons. He feltseveral dozen eyes upon him. Which suited him fine, for he said ina loud voice:
“Is there anyone here who intends to vote inthe election? There’s only forty minutes to go.”
“What election?” said Gert to Crow.
“Holy Jesus! We were heading to Danby’s tocast our vote.” Crow looked over at Marc and waved. “Over here,” hesaid.
Marc came over to the table. “You wish tovote?” he said to Crow.
“Yeah. And so do my friends here.”
“You ain’t gonna leave us?” said Glenna,returning.
“We gotta vote,” said Green. “Sorry.”
“I’ll help you,” Marc said.
“We was hopin’ you boys would come home toour place for a little . . . ah, supper,” said Glenna.
“Help me wake these fellas up,” Crow said toMarc.
“You got transportation?” Marc said.
“That’s our hay-wagon out front.”
“You won’t get far in that,” Marc said. “Theleft real wheel is off it.”
“Oh, my God,” said Crow.
“What about us?” Gert said.
“Sorry, but we gotta go,” Crow said, shakingPowell, who had slumped face-down on the table.
“I’ll see if Murphy has a carriage to let,”Marc said. “You get your friends awake and upright.” Marc brushedby the two women and found Murphy behind the bar.
“You got a carriage or wagon for hire?” Marcsaid.
“I’ve got an old broken down barouche and ateam,” Murphy said. “It’ll cost you money.”
“I’ll just need it for an hour,” Marcsaid.
“Five dollars,” Murphy said, whose supportfor Reform only went so far.
Marc gave him the money.
Ten minutes later, Green and Powell weredozing in the back of the barouche, which had had its roof torn offand its seats ravaged by mice. A stableboy was hitching up amismatched team of drays.
“Look after the Percherons hitched to thathay-wagon,” Marc said to the stableboy. “And see if you can findsomeone to put that wheel back onto it. There’s a shilling in itfor you if you can.”
“They’ve fallen asleep again,” Crow said indisgust.
“Don’t worry. We’ll wake them when we get tothe poll,” Marc said. He hitched his own horse to the back of thebarouche, and cracked the reins over the horses’ ears. The barouchemoved forward – south towards Danby’s Crossing. The two women stoodin the doorway, watching them go. Behind them was D’ArcyRutherford. He wasn’t smiling.
***
It was five minutes to six when Marc pulled up tothe rail outside Danby’s Inn. All three farmers were now awake -pale and sickly looking, and unsteady on their pins. Marc helpedeach one out of the carriage.
“Now, fellows, get in there and vote.”
The farmers tottered into the foyer, wherethe returning officer was standing behind his table with hispoll-book open and his watch in his hand. He looked startled at thelast-minute arrivals.
“We’ve come to vote,” said Green.
And one by one they opted for the Reformparty. The final count was Arthur Dingman: 260; Louis LaFontaine:263.
TEN
The celebration of Louis LaFontaine’s victory washeartfelt but muted. Gilles Gagnon’s trial was to begin on Monday.The principal parties and a few other well-wishers congregated inthe generous parlour of Baldwin House. Louis gave a speech ofthanks that moved his audience.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Robert Baldwinhere that I can never repay, whose generosity and dedication to ourmutual cause are legend in Canada West. The importance of thisvictory today cannot be exaggerated. For I have been elected in anEnglish-speaking riding entirely by English speakers. I – a rebeland a Catholic and a Frenchman. This will send a message to my homeprovince that French and English can collaborate, can be united ina single cause: the quest for justice in a responsible government.I look forward to serving beside Robert in the new Legislature.And, as a result of my staying here in Canada West for almost amonth, my English has improved, if ever so slightly.”
Louis gave a smile as applause rained downupon him. Robert spoke next.
“This moment is a significant one in ourhistory. Louis and I intend to create a Reform administration,sooner rather than later. The immediate future may look uncertain -with the proroging of Parliament due to the grave state of healthof our Governor – but the long term looks sanguine indeed. Any newgovernor will be compelled to accept the status quo and the gainswe have already made. Gentlemen, the future is ours.”
The gathering broke up at midnight, Marchaving excused himself an hour earlier to get a good night’ssleep.
***
A great deal of care and money had been put into theconstruction of the Court House and its matching neighbour, thejail. The interior was as austere as it was magnificent. It was allpolished oak and filigreed plaster. The high bench gleamed downupon the side-galleries and lawyer’s lecterns with impressivemajesty. Behind the attorneys’ seats were several rows of pews forthe VIPs. Monday morning was taken up with jury selection. By twoo’clock in the afternoon the trial was ready to begin.
It was in the robing room that Marcdiscovered who his adversary would be: Sheldon McBride. McBride wasas rotund as he was orotund, a short, bejowled man with a fullwhite beard and bushy eyebrows. In his flamboyant wig and flowingrobe he looked like an ageing tragedian or Moses on the Mount. Marcknew the fellow’s reputation for histrionics and fulminations, andrespected him for it. But he welcomed the challenge. Cobb hadprovided him with plenty of ammunition to take into the fray.