I felt sure that if the case came up again for trial he would only be convicted through what I may call good, honest testimony.

The jury with their English prejudice; or rather I should say with their healthy English instincts would not take the evidence of vile blackmailers against him; he could only be convicted through untainted evidence such as the evidence of the chambermaids at the Savoy Hotel, and their evidence was over two years old and was weak, inasmuch as the facts, if facts, were not acted upon by the management.

Still their testimony was very clear and very positive, and, taken together with that of the blackmailers, sufficient to ensure conviction.

After our lunch I laid this view before Oscar.

He agreed with me that it was probably the chambermaids' testimony which had weighed most heavily against him.