"I will answer that to a certain extent," he replied at last. "At the time of his death, no! None!"
"Had there been previously?"
"At one time—yes. It was over."
"You and he were good friends?"
"Absolutely! Both in private and public—I mean in public affairs. I was in complete touch and sympathy with him as regards his public work."
"Now, Dr. Wellesley, I think that for your own sake you ought to give us some information on one or two points. Mrs. Saumarez said on oath that you asked her to marry you, two or three times. She also said that the late Mayor asked her too. Now——"
Wellesley suddenly brought down his hand on the ledge of the witness-box.
"I have already told you, sir, that I am not going to discuss my affairs with Mrs. Saumarez nor with the late Mayor in relation to Mrs. Saumarez!" he exclaimed with some show of anger. "They are private and have nothing to do with this inquiry. I shall not answer any question relating to them."
"In that case, Dr. Wellesley, you will lay yourself open to whatever conclusions the jury chooses to make," said Meeking. "We have already heard Mrs. Saumarez say—what she did say. But, as you won't answer, I will pass to another matter. You have already told us that the evidence of your assistant, Dr. Carstairs, is correct as to your movements between half-past seven and eleven minutes to eight, or, rather, as to your absence from the surgery during those nineteen minutes. You adhere to that?"
"Certainly! Carstairs is quite correct."