“The man who uses italics,” said the politician, “is like the man who raises his voice in conversation and talks loudly in order to make himself heard.”

It was the well-known objection which Emerson had taken to Carlyle’s overwrought style, pointed probably by dislike of the way Oscar monopolised conversation.

Oscar met the stereotyped attack with smiling good-humour.

“How delightful of you, Mr. Asquith, to have noticed that!  The brilliant phrase, like good wine, needs no bush.  But just as the orator marks his good things by a dramatic pause, or by raising or lowering his voice, or by gesture, so the writer marks his epigrams with italics, setting the little gem, so to speak, like a jeweller—­an excusable love of one’s art, not all mere vanity, I like to think”—­all this with the most pleasant smile and manner.

In measure as I distrusted Oscar’s fighting power and admired his sweetness of nature I took sides with him and wanted to help him.  One day I heard some talk at the Pelican Club which filled me with fear for him and quickened my resolve to put him on his guard.  I was going in just as Queensberry was coming out with two or three of his special cronies.

“I’ll do it,” I heard him cry, “I’ll teach the fellow to leave my son alone.  I’ll not have their names coupled together.”

I caught a glimpse of the thrust-out combative face and the hot grey eyes.

“What’s it all about?” I asked.

“Only Queensberry,” said someone, “swearing he’ll stop Oscar Wilde going about with that son of his, Alfred Douglas.”

Suddenly my fears took form:  as in a flash I saw Oscar, heedless and smiling, walking along with his head in the air, and that violent combative insane creature pouncing on him.  I sat down at once and wrote begging Oscar to lunch with me the next day alone, as I had something important to say to him.  He turned up in Park Lane, manifestly anxious, a little frightened, I think.

“What is it, Frank?”

I told him very seriously what I had heard and gave besides my impression of Queensberry’s character, and his insane pugnacity.

“What can I do, Frank?” said Oscar, showing distress and apprehension.  “It’s all Bosie.”

“Who is Bosie?” I asked.

“That is Lord Alfred Douglas’ pet name.  It’s all Bosie’s fault.  He has quarrelled with his father, or rather his father has quarrelled with him.  He quarrels with everyone; with Lady Queensberry, with Percy Douglas, with Bosie, everyone.  He’s impossible.  What can I do?”

“Avoid him,” I said.  “Don’t go about with Lord Alfred Douglas.  Give Queensberry his triumph.  You could make a friend of him as easily as possible, if you wished.  Write him a conciliatory letter.”

“But he’ll want me to drop Bosie, and stop seeing Lady Queensberry, and I like them all; they are charming to me.  Why should I cringe to this madman?”