Updated: Feb 12 1998 5:04PM

Tired and Emotional: Monica Lewinsky's mother Marcia Lewis leaves federal court in Washington. STEPHAN SAVOIA/AP

WASHINGTON: Talk about an emotionally fraught case. The Monica Lewinsky affair is starting to burst with more passion and courtroom intrigue than the combined novels of John Grisham and Jackie Collins. The still-silent Monica is said by her lawyer, William Ginsburg, to be doing no worse than ìprotecting someone she lovesî (presumably the President). Her mother, Marcia, facing a third day of grand jury testimony Thursday, was ìemotionally drainedî by having to testify against her daughter, said her attorney. And no wonder. ì[Monica] told her everything about the sex,î according to Linda Trippís agent, Luciane Goldberg. Even the relationship between Ginsburg and Ken Starr is described in the langue díamour: ìHe never writes, he never calls,î joked Lewinskyís attorney.

Into this atmosphere comes another emotionally charged question: Should the Secret Service be forced to testify against the man they are sworn to protect? Starr has subpoenaed one retired and one current member of the Presidentís bodyguard, one day after former agent Lewis Fox claimed to have seen Clinton and Lewinsky in the Oval Office together. Janet Reno confirmed that subpoenas have been issued, but said the Administration hadn't decided whether to fight them. Itís certainly no secret that the Treasury Department (which is in charge of the Secret Service) dislikes attacks on its agentsí historical reticence. If they are dragged into court, thereíll likely be enough material for a whole new novel.

-- Chris Taylor