It came out in evidence that Lord Alfred Douglas was now in Calais.

His hatred of his father was the _causa causans_ of the whole case; he had pushed Oscar into the fight and Oscar, still intent on shielding him, declared that he had asked him to go abroad.
Sir Edward Clarke again did his poor best.

He pointed out that the trial rested on the evidence of mere blackmailers.

He would not quarrel with that and discuss it, but it was impossible not to see that if blackmailers were to be listened to and believed, their profession might speedily become a more deadly mischief and danger to society than it had ever been.
The speech was a weak one; but the people in court cheered Sir Edward Clarke; the cheers were immediately suppressed by the Judge.
The Solicitor-General took up the rest of the day with a rancorous reply.

Sir Edward Clarke even had to remind him that law officers of the Crown should try to be impartial.