 Rumpole finds himself defending Harold Brittling who is charged with selling a forged painting. The painting sold for 5 figures and the defendant doesn t seem to too keen on being acquitted. Rumpole nonetheless defends him with vigor and is assisted by Brittling s friend, who sees through his nonsense. Guthrie Featherstone is named a high court judge and gets the knighthood that goes along with the appointment. As luck would have it, Rumpole s forgery case is before Featherstone, his first case as a judge.