Witness.—“It is mainly true, but false inferences have been drawn from it as from most of the evidence. Truth may be found, I believe, at the bottom of a well. It is, apparently difficult to find it in a court of law.” (Laughter.)
Mr. Gill.—“Nevertheless we endeavour to extract it. Did the witness Mavor write you expressing a wish to break off the acquaintance?”
Witness.—“I received a rather unaccountable and impertinent letter from him for which he afterwards expressed great regret.”
Mr. Gill.—“Why should he have written it if your conduct had altogether been blameless?”
Witness.—“I do not profess to be able to explain the motives of most of the witnesses. Mavor may have been told some falsehood about me. His father was greatly incensed at his conduct at this time, and, I believe, attributed his son’s erratic courses to his friendship with me. I do not think Mavor altogether to blame. Pressure was brought to bear upon him and he was not then quite right in his mind.”
Mr. Gill.—“You made handsome presents to these young fellows?”
Witness.—“Pardon me, I differ. I gave two or three of them a cigarette-case. Boys of that class smoke a good deal of cigarettes. I have a weakness for presenting my acquitances with cigarette-cases.”
Mr. Gill.—“Rather an expensive habit if indulged in indiscriminately.”
Witness.—“Less extravagant than giving jewelled-garters to ladies.” (Laughter).
When a few more unimportant questions had been asked, Wilde left the witness-box, returning to the dock with the same air of what may be described as serious easiness. The impression created by his replies was not, upon the whole, favorable to his cause.