BOOTH. I'll come down to your office and work with you.
_At this cheerful prospect even poor_ EDWARD _can't help smiling_.
EDWARD. Why, you'd be found out at once.
BOOTH. [_feeling that it is a chance lost._] Well, of course the Pater
never consulted me. I only know what I feel ought to be possible. I can
but make the suggestion.
_At this point_ TRENCHARD _looks round the door to say_ . .
TRENCHARD. Are you coming, Booth?
BOOTH. Yes, certainly. I'll talk this over with Trenchard. [_as he gets
up and automatically stiffens, he is reminded of the occasion and his
voice drops._] I say . . we've been speaking very loud. You must do
nothing rash. I've no doubt I can devise something which will obviate . .
and then I'm sure I shall convince you . . [_glancing into the hall he
apparently catches_ TRENCHARD'S _impatient eye, for he departs abruptly
saying_ . . ] All right, Trenchard, you've eight minutes.
BOOTH'S _departure leaves_ HUGH, _at any rate, really at his ease_.
HUGH. What an experience for you, Edward!
EDWARD. [_bitterly._] And I feared what the shock might be to you all!
Booth has made a good recovery.
HUGH. You wouldn't have him miss such a chance of booming at us all.
EDWARD. It's strange the number of people who believe you can do right
by means which they know to be wrong.
HUGH. [_taking great interest in this._] Come, what do we know about
right and wrong? Let's say legal and illegal. You're so down on the
Governor because he has trespassed against the etiquette of your own
profession. But now he's dead . . and if there weren't the disgrace to
think of . . it's no use the rest of us pretending to feel him a
criminal, because we don't. Which just shows that money . . and
property--
_At this point he becomes conscious that_ ALICE MAITLAND _is standing
behind him, her eyes fixed on his brother. So he interrupts himself to
ask_ . .
HUGH. D'you want to speak to Edward?
ALICE. Please, Hugh.
HUGH. I'll go.
_He goes, a little martyrlike, to conclude the evolution of his theory
in soliloquy; his usual fate._ ALICE _still looks at_ EDWARD _with soft
eyes, and he at her rather appealingly_.
ALICE. Auntie has told me.
EDWARD. He was fond of you. Don't think worse of him than you can help.
ALICE. I'm thinking of you.
EDWARD. I may just escape.
ALICE. So Trenchard says.
EDWARD. My hands are clean, Alice.
ALICE. [_her voice falling lovingly._] I know that.
EDWARD. Mother's not very upset.
ALICE. She had expected a smash in his life time.
EDWARD. I'm glad that didn't happen.
ALICE. Yes . . as the fault was his it won't hurt you so much to stand
up to the blame.
EDWARD _looks puzzled at this for a moment, then gives it up_.
EDWARD. I'm hurt enough now.
ALICE. Why, what have the boys done? It was a mercy to tell Honor just
at this time. She can grieve for his death and his disgrace at the same
time . . and the one grief lessens the other perhaps.
EDWARD. Oh, they're all shocked enough at the disgrace . . but will they
open their purses to lessen the disgrace?
ALICE. Will it seem less disgraceful to have stolen ten thousand pounds
than twenty?
EDWARD. I should think so.
ALICE. I should think so, but I wonder if that's the Law. If it isn't,
Trenchard wouldn't consider the point. I'm sure Public Opinion doesn't
say so . . and that's what Booth is considering.
EDWARD. [_with contempt._] Yes.
ALICE. [_ever so gently ironical._] Well, he's in the Army . . he's
almost in Society . . and he has to get on in both; one mustn't blame
him. Of course if the money could have been given up with a flourish of
trumpets . . ! But even then I doubt whether the advertisement would
bring in what it cost.
EDWARD. [_very serious._] But when one thinks how the money was
obtained!
ALICE. When one thinks how most money is obtained!
EDWARD. They've not earned it.
ALICE. [_her eyes humorous._] If they had they might have given it you
and earned more. Did I ever tell you what my guardian said to me when I
came of age?
EDWARD. I'm thankful your money's not been in danger.
ALICE. It might have been, but I was made to look after it myself . .
much against my will. My guardian was a person of great character and no
principles, the best and most loveable man I've ever met . . I'm sorry
you never knew him Edward . . and he said once to me . . You've no right
to your money. You've not earned it or deserved it in any way. Therefore
don't be surprised or annoyed if any enterprising person tries to get
it from you. He has at least as much right to it as you have . . if he
can use it better, he has more right. Shocking sentiments, aren't they?
No respectable man of business could own to them. But I'm not so sorry
for some of these clients as you are, Edward.
EDWARD _shakes his head, treating these paradoxes as they deserve_.
EDWARD. Alice . . one or two of them will be beggared.
ALICE. [_sincerely._] Yes, that is serious. What's to be done?
EDWARD. There's old nurse . . with her poor little savings gone!
ALICE. Surely those can be spared her?
EDWARD. The Law's no respecter of persons . . that's its boast. Old
Booth with more than he wants will keep enough. My old nurse, with just
enough, may starve. But it'll be a relief to clear out this nest of
lies, even though one suffers one's self. I've been ashamed to walk into
that office, Alice . . I'll hold my head high in prison though.
_He shakes himself stiffly erect, his chin high._ ALICE _quizzes him_.
ALICE. Edward, I'm afraid you're feeling heroic.