He had pulled the fair building of reputation and success down upon his own head, and, with the "booing" of the mob still in his ears, he could think of nothing but the lost hours when he ought to have used his money to take him beyond the reach of his pursuers.
His enemies, on the other hand, had acted with the utmost promptitude.
Lord Queensberry's solicitor, Mr.Charles Russell, had stated that it was not his client's intention to take the initiative in any criminal prosecution of Mr.Oscar Wilde, but, on the very same morning when Wilde withdrew from the prosecution, Mr.Russell sent a letter to the Hon.

Hamilton Cuffe, the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a copy of "all our witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial." The Treasury authorities were at least as eager.

As soon as possible after leaving the court Mr.C.F.Gill, Mr.Angus Lewis, and Mr.
Charles Russell waited on Sir John Bridge at Bow Street in his private room and obtained a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde, which was executed, as we have seen, the same evening.
The police showed him less than no favour.

About eight o'clock Lord Alfred Douglas drove to Bow Street and wanted to know if Wilde could be bailed out, but was informed that his application could not be entertained.

He offered to procure comforts for the prisoner: this offer also was peremptorily refused by the police inspector just as Ross's offer of night clothes had been refused.