Sir Edward.—“Where did you see him?”
Witness.—“I went to see him in Tite Street.”
Sir Edward Clarke then proceeded to question the witness with regard to letters which he had written to Wilde both before and after the visits to the Albemarle Hotel, and in the course of his replies the witness said that he formed the opinion that “Wilde was really sorry for what he had done.”
Sir Edward Clarke.—“What do you mean by ‘what he had done’?”
Witness.—“His improper behaviour with young men.”
Sir Edward.—“Yet you say he never practised any actual improprieties upon you?”
Witness.—“Because he saw that I would never allow anything of the kind. He did not disguise from me what he wanted, or what his usual customs with young men were.”
Sir Edward.—“Yet you wrote him grateful letters breathing apparent friendship?”
Witness.—“For the reason I have given.”
Sir Edward.—“Well, we’ll leave that question. Now, tell me, why did you leave the Vigo Street firm of publishers?”