So far all that Miss Travers had said hung together and seemed eminently credible; but when she was questioned about the chloroform and the handkerchief she became confused. At the outset she admitted that the handkerchief might have been a rag. She was not certain it was a rag. It was something she saw the doctor throw into the fire when she came to her senses. "Had he kept it in his hands, then, all the time you were unconscious?" "I don't know." "Just to show it to you?" The witness was silent. When she was examined as to her knowledge of chloroform, she broke down hopelessly. She did not know the smell of it; could not describe it; did not know whether it burnt or not; could not in fact swear that it was chloroform Dr. Wilde had used; would not swear that it was anything; believed that it was chloroform or something like it because she lost consciousness. That was her only reason for saying that chloroform had been given to her. Again the judge interposed with the probing question: "Did you say anything about chloroform in your pamphlet?" "No," the witness murmured. It was manifest that the strong current of feeling in favour of Miss Travers had begun to ebb. The story was a toothsome morsel still: but it was regretfully admitted that the charge of rape had not been pushed home. It was felt to be disappointing, too, that the chief prosecuting witness should have damaged her own case. It was now the turn of the defence, and some thought the pendulum might swing back again. Lady Wilde gave her evidence emphatically, but was too bitter to be a persuasive witness. It was tried to prove from her letter that she believed that Miss Travers had had an intrigue with Sir William Wilde, but she would not have it. She did not for a moment believe in her husband's guilt. Miss Travers wished to make it appear, she said, that she had an intrigue with Sir William Wilde, but in her opinion it was utterly untrue. Sir William Wilde was above suspicion. There was not a particle of truth in the accusation; "her" husband would never so demean himself. Lady Wilde's disdainful speeches seemed to persuade the populace, but had small effect on the jury, and still less on the judge. When she was asked if she hated Miss Travers, she replied that she did not hate anyone, but she had to admit that she disliked Miss Travers' methods of action. "Why did you not answer Miss Travers when she wrote telling you of your husband's attempt on her virtue?" "I took no interest in the matter," was the astounding reply. The defence made an even worse mistake than this. When the time came, Sir William Wilde was not called.