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This is very serious, said Mma Makutsi. Hes innocent, said Charlie. Of course hes innocent, snapped Mma Makutsi. We know that Fanwell would never do anything wrong. But were not the ones who will be sitting there in court, are we Charlie stared at her. If they convict him, what then They send you to prison for handling stolen property, said Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. That man at the bottle storeremember him He went to prison for two years for selling stolen beer. Two years! Charlie exclaimed. Hes a first offender, said Mma Makutsi. This remark, innocently intended though it was, drew Charlies ire. Pointing a finger at Mma Makutsi, he almost shouted. You think hes guilty, dont you Mma Makutsi shook her head. I do not think that. Then why do you call him an offender Isnt an offender somebody whos guilty Mma Makutsi tried to explain what she had meant; Charlie listened resentfully. We mustnt argue, said Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Arguing t help Fanwell. Nothing will help Fanwell, said Mma Makutsi. MMA RAMOTSWE RETURNED to the office an hour or so after the police and a fearful, almost tearful Fanwell had left. Her heart was heavy with the upsetting encounter she had just had with Mma Potokwane, and so when she came in and saw Mma Makutsi sitting disconsolately at her desk, she assumed that her assistant was merely sharing her own distress over the injustice done to her friend. But then she realised that Mma Makutsi did not know what had happened, and whatever the explanation for her assistants state of mind, it was not that. Is there something wrong, Mma Mma Makutsi reached into the pocket of her blouse and took out a handkerchief. Oh, Mma Ramotswe, it is very bad, very bad. Mma Ramotswe froze. Her mind went quickly to those she loved: Which one of them had had some terrible accident, was even at this moment under the surgeons knife at the Princess Marina Hospital Had something happened in the garage Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni had said that one of the pneumatic jacks was playing uphad it failed altogether and a car come down on him, pinning him to the ground Puso Motholeli They should be safely at home from school by now, but there were always perils, even in that short walk between the house and schoolonly a few days ago a car driven by a young and inexperienced motorist had mounted the pavement and knocked over a fruitseller Fanwell , Mma Makutsi began. Mma Ramotswe gasped. Oh no, Mma, oh no Fanwell was dead. He had been under the car when the jack had failed. Mma Makutsi quickly understood the conclusion that Mma Ramotswe had jumped to, and she corrected the mistake. No, Mma, he is not latenothing like that. He has been She struggled with the word; it was just so unlikely, so impossible. He has been arrested. Mma Ramotswes relief on hearing that the worst had not happened was tempered by shock. Arrested Surely not, Mma Not Fanwell She tailed off; the unspoken thought was that if Charlie had been arrested it would not be so surprising. Yes, said Mma Makutsi. If they had arrested Charlie, then maybe it would not have been so surprising. But Fanwell No, Mma, it is a very shocking thing. Mma Ramotswe nodded. I know, Mma, I have often thought that Charlie was asking for trouble. She paused. Do you think that they made a mistake Do you think they thought that Fanwell was Charlie It is all a big mistake, replied Mma Makutsi. But it is not that mistake. No, they knew that Fanwell was Fanwell, and he was the one they were after. Mma Ramotswe crossed the room to her desk and sat down. There is other bad news too, she said quietly. Mma Potokwane has been dismissed from her post. At the end of the month she will no longer be the matron. Mma Makutsi shrieked. No, Mma. That cannot be. It cannot. Mma Ramotswe explained what had happened. She had found Mma Potokwane in her house, she said, and had been given the news directly. Mma Potokwane told her that she had had the news given to her by the secretary to the board of directors of the orphan farm. The directors had decided, she was told, that her attitude to the proposed new buildings had been unhelpful and obstructive. In the circumstances, since she had shown herself unwilling to comply with the properly determined policy of the board, it was thought that she should be replaced with somebody who could embrace the new approach to costeffectiveness that the board had endorsed. And with that, her regime was brought to an abrupt end. Mma Ramotswe was slightly surprised by the intensity of Mma Makutsis reaction to this story. Although her assistant had previously not enjoyed the best of friendships with Mma Potokwane, relations between the two of them had been rather better recently. And now, hearing of Mma Potokwanes misfortune, any past disagreements seemed immediately forgotten. That is terrible, Mma, wailed Mma Makutsi. Oh, it is so unfair, so unfair. And on the same day as Fanwells arrestand he is innocent, Mma, as we both know. Mma Potokwane too. They are both the victims of some very bad things. Oh, Mma And with that, Mma Makutsi began to sob. Mma Ramotswe immediately rose from her desk and went to put an arm around the other woman. It is very bad, she said consolingly. It is a very bad day for everybody. Mma Makutsis sobbing became louder. Poor Fanwell, she spluttered. He is looking after that whole family, and there will be no money now. And Mma Potokwane. What will she eat It is all so wrong, Mma. Mma Ramotswe felt the tears begin to roll down her own cheeks. She closed her eyes and saw Mma Potokwane sitting on her sofa, staring so blankly and hopelessly ahead. She had given her working life to those ; she had spent every waking hour, it seemed, battling to give the a decent start. She was tireless in her efforts on their behalf. And there was her fruit cake too, that she used as a means of ensnaring others to help the orphans; that fruit cake, that tea, those hours spent together talking about anything and everything. And the wisdom that the matron had, the understanding, the deep wells of kindness under that imposing exterior; all that, it seemed, meant nothing to the juggernaut of reform and efficiency and costcutting.