Andrew Keogh brings a legal twist to a classic festive tale
Vera was politically dead to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of her downfall was signed by the lord chancellor, Derek, Richard, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Vera was as dead as a doornail.
VERA’S GHOST
Scrooge knew she was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? Scrooge and she were partners for I don’t know how many years. Scrooge was her sole executor, her sole administrator, her sole assign, her sole residuary legatee, her sole friend, and her sole mourner. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event.
“A merry Christmas, Scrooge! God save you!” cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Desmond bringing glad tidings and a sealed copy of the Court of Appeal judgment, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.
“Bah!” said Scrooge. “Humbug!”
“Christmas a
