Part 1, Section 5 (pages 73-87) Summary

Montgomery introduces the reader to his counsel, Maolseachlainn Mac Giolla Gunna. He describes his solicitor's legal prowess, saying he is a terror in the courthouse, but the man also reminds Montgomery of a fat schoolboy who used to be in love with him and do his schoolwork for him.

Maolseachlainn has a trick of seizing on the small details in a case and questions Montgomery about why he went to Whitewater at all. Montgomery insists he went to see Anna Behrens. After all, they were friends, and he had been away for ten years. Maolseachlainn slips into court mode, asking about Montgomery's anger over the paintings. Helmut Behrens had those paintings, and maybe Montgomery felt he had not paid his mother a fair price for them.

Montgomery corrects Maolseachlainn, saying that the fight was not really about...