Rumpole of the Bailey

A live mouse is served to Erskine-Brown in a London restaurant, and Rumpole finds himself defending the self-important chef-restaurateur on the environmental health charges which follow. At home, Hilda takes up with her Canadian cousin and loses all interest in Rumpole.

Before Mr Justice Guthrie Featherstone, Rumpole defends a trade unionist on charges of recklessly causing the death of a truck-driver who was crossing a union picket-line. Guthrie is thinking about a strike of his own, to hit back at new rights of audience for mere solicitors in court. Meanwhile, chez Rumpole, Hilda declares she is going on strike herself.

Rumpole defends a radical lecturer charged with murdering an unpopular university administrator. But his client refuses to give critical information in his own defense. Meanwhile, Rumpole gives Ballard and Erskine-Brown advice on how to keep secrets from their lady wives, and Hilda takes offence.

With little sign of enthusiasm, Rumpole takes Hilda on a cruising holiday. He is appalled to learn that a High Court judge, Mr Justice Graves, is also on board, and Rumpole promptly dives for cover. But then the missing wife of a reverend becomes the target of some skullduggery, and Rumpole surfaces again from his hidey-hole.

Rumpole defends his own doctor, charged with feeling up a woman patient - and Rumpole's friend Phyllida is counsel for the prosecution. Then Claude Erskine-Brown is also in hot water, when Phyllida persuades herself that Claude has been advertising in the personal column of a top-shelf magazine, with a view to dating other women.

Rumpole agrees to act for the family of a dead girl who are bringing a private prosecution for murder against Christopher Jago. Due to lack of evidence the Police decided not to charge him.