If O.W.was to prosecute you in the Central Criminal Court for libel, you would get seven years' penal servitude for your outrageous libels.

Much as I detest you, I am anxious to avoid this for the sake of the family; but if you try to assault me, I shall defend myself with a loaded revolver, which I always carry; and if I shoot you or if he shoots you, we shall be completely justified, as we shall be acting in self-defence against a violent and dangerous rough, and I think if you were dead many people would not miss you .-- A.D." This letter of the son seemed to me appalling.

My guess was right; it was he who was speaking through Oscar; the threat of shooting at sight came from him.

I did not then understand all the circumstances; I had not met Lady Queensberry.

I could not have imagined how she had suffered at the hands of her husband--a charming, cultivated woman, with exquisite taste in literature and art; a woman of the most delicate, aspen-like sensibilities and noble generosities, coupled with that violent, coarse animal with the hot eyes and combative nature.