Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/498

 rapports with his deserted ephebus. This decision was loudly commented on as personally biased, and influenced by Court intrigues against impartiality of justice. W—had undoubtedly been guilty not only of pederasty but of seduction, and of ruining a youth's whole life.

Manifestly the blackmailer relies primarily upon fear on the part of the victim. To terrorize is the first necessity. A man otherwise brave too often cannot cow such an assailant by bold demeanour or. by calm ridicule. He fears more than the attack the "talk" over the remedy! True is it that a good kicking from one's doors is generally enough to send a common type of Erpresser flying, for good. But [Iranians are too often not muscular nor valorous. The victim's ignorance of the legal dispositions for his aid is general in the countries where he needs most such aid. Physical strength, moral resolution, legal knowledge, are defences not too universally practised in any troublesome affairs. The victim is likely to be unaware that he has the good-will of law and police-court, rather than has the rascal. Unless he be examined by pedants of morality, the victim has enough chances to avoid direct compromises by his own recital: at least that is now a tendency, in many countries. But the social whispers that will inevitably fly about hold the victim back. People will comment; they will believe more or less, will be scandalized, even if the Uranian predicament be all a tissue of persecution. Hence the struggle against some vampire, or pack of vampires, can go on for years! Immediate recourse to legal help, to betake oneself to the nearest police-court—to call the nearest police-officer, to face down the blackmailer with rudest or calmest contempt and with counter-threats and action—these are not only the first defenses but often perfectly efficient ones.

Here is an example of English blackmail; cited from the London press: