"Sir James Anderson,--With the permission of the House, I think it my duty to inform you, after the opening we have heard made by the Attorney-General of the facts of the case, that you are not bound to answer any question _which may tend to criminate yourself_." Doubtless, Sir James Anderson expected nothing less, and had come to the House of Lords perfectly at his ease. Therefore he came like a shadow, and so departed. Thus "had he his entrance and his exit." "_Attorney-General._--Of what profession are you? "_A._--I am a physician. "_Q._--Where do you live? "_A._--New Burlington Street. "_Q._--Are you acquainted with Captain Tuckett? "_A._--I must decline answering that. "_Q._--Were you on Wimbledon Common on the 12th September last? "_A._--I must decline answering that also! "_Q._--Were you on that day called in to attend any gentleman that was wounded? "_A._--I am sorry to decline that again! "_Q._--Can you tell me where Captain Tuckett lives? "_A._--I must decline answering the question! "_Q._--Has he a house in London? "_Sir William Follett._--He 'declines to answer the question.' "_A._--I have already said that I decline answering the question. "_Attorney-General._--Where did you last see Captain Tuckett? "_Sir William Follett._--We [the counsel for the prisoner] have no _right_, my Lords, to interfere in this case;[57] but, the witness having several times declined to answer the question, I apprehend that it is not regular for the Attorney-General, by circuitous questions, to endeavour to get him to answer. "_Attorney-General._--I have never pressed him in any question I have put. [_To Sir James Anderson._]--Do you decline answering any question whatever respecting Captain Tuckett? "_A._--_Any_ question which may 'tend to criminate' myself. "_Q._--And you consider that answering any question respecting Captain Tuckett _may_ tend to criminate yourself? "_A._--It is possible that it would. "_Q._--And on that ground you decline? "_A._--Yes. "_Attorney-General_, [_to the House_.]--Then, unless your Lordships wish to ask any question of the witness, he may withdraw. "The witness was directed to withdraw." Here, then, were four avenues through which light might have been thrown on a transaction which was the subject of such solemn and dignified inquiry by the most illustrious judicial assembly in the world, carefully closed: Sir James Anderson, Captain Tuckett, Captain Douglas, and Captain Wainwright. It will be further observed that Lord Cardigan, in his frank avowal at the police station, had happened not to mention the name of the gentleman whom he had fought and wounded--an omission probably altogether accidental, for his Lordship seems to have been in a humour of signal yet becoming and characteristic frankness.