Michael Baigent is heading back into the high court today to face his fourth day of virtually line by line cross-examination of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (the book he wrote almost 30 years ago with Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln), The Da Vinci Code which they claim lifted bodily from their work, the authors' original synopses for both books, and his own 176 page witness statement.
He is finding it a visibly gruelling experience: Mr Justice Peter Smith glanced at his wan face yesterday and offered him a five minute break, accepted with stammering gratitude. However Mr Justice Smith, with typically soft spoken ferocity - "have you got a get out of jail card? Because otherwise I suggest you prevent your mobile phone from ringing again", he murmured to one unfortunate in court - has given Baigent draconian warnings about discussing his evidence with his team in his breaks from the witness box.
"How are you?" Baigent was asked, as he slipped back into court yesterday. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that," he replied, with a weary grin.
