I was soon forced to see that these honourable and praiseworthy conventions were as withes of straw in the fire of English prejudice.

The first thing to set me doubting was that the judge did not try to check the cheering in Court after the verdict in favour of Lord Queensberry.

English judges always resent and resist such popular outbursts: why not in this case?
After all, no judge could think Queensberry a hero: he was too well known for that, and yet the cheering swelled again and again, and the judge gathered up his papers without a word and went his way as if he were deaf.

A dreadful apprehension crept over me: in spite of myself I began to realise that my belief in English justice might be altogether mistaken.

It was to me as if the solid earth had become a quaking bog, or indeed as if a child had suddenly discovered its parent to be shameless.