"I will answer that to a certain extent," he replied at last. "At the time of his death, no! None!" "Had there been previously?" "At one time--yes. It was over." "You and he were good friends?" "Absolutely! Both in private and public--I mean in public affairs. I was in complete touch and sympathy with him as regards his public work." "Now, Dr. Wellesley, I think that for your own sake you ought to give us some information on one or two points. Mrs. Saumarez said on oath that you asked her to marry you, two or three times. She also said that the late Mayor asked her too. Now----" Wellesley suddenly brought down his hand on the ledge of the witness-box. "I have already told you, sir, that I am not going to discuss my affairs with Mrs. Saumarez nor with the late Mayor in relation to Mrs. Saumarez!" he exclaimed with some show of anger. "They are private and have nothing to do with this inquiry. I shall not answer any question relating to them." "In that case, Dr. Wellesley, you will lay yourself open to whatever conclusions the jury chooses to make," said Meeking. "We have already heard Mrs. Saumarez say--what she did say. But, as you won't answer, I will pass to another matter. You have already told us that the evidence of your assistant, Dr. Carstairs, is correct as to your movements between half-past seven and eleven minutes to eight, or, rather, as to your absence from the surgery during those nineteen minutes. You adhere to that?" "Certainly! Carstairs is quite correct." "Very well. Where were you during that time--nineteen minutes?" "For the most part of the time, in my drawing-room." "What do you mean by most part of the time?" "Well, I should say three parts of it." "And the other part?" "Spent in letting a caller in and letting the caller out." "By your front door?" "No; by a side door--a private door." "You took this caller to your drawing-room?" "Yes." "For a private interview?" "Precisely." Meeking allowed a minute to elapse, during which he affected to look at his papers. Suddenly he turned full on his witness. "Who was the caller?" Wellesley drew his tall figure still more erect. "I refuse to say!" "Why?" "Because I am not going to drag in the name of my caller! The business my caller came upon was of a very private and confidential nature, and I am not going to break my rule of professional silence. I shall not give the name." Meeking again paused. Finally, with a glance at the Coroner, he turned to his witness and began to speak more earnestly.