Witness.—“Kindly quote them.”
Mr. Gill.—“In letter number one. You use this expression: ‘Your slim gilt soul,’ and you refer to Lord Alfred’s “rose-leaf lips.”
Witness.—“The letter is really a sort of prose sonnet in answer to an acknowledgement of one I had received from Lord Alfred.”
Mr. Gill.—“Do you think that an ordinarily-constituted being would address such expressions to a younger man?”
Witness.—“I am not, happily, I think, an ordinarily constituted being.”
Mr. Gill.—“It is agreeable to be able to agree with you, Mr. Wilde.” (Laughter).
Witness.—“There is, I assure you, nothing in either letter of which I need be ashamed.”
Mr. Gill.—“You have heard the evidence of the lad Charles Parker?”
Witness.—“Yes.”
Mr. Gill.—“Of Atkins?”