JAMES. I can't forgive him for the sneaky way he went to work—       counting on our suspecting young Davis if the matter came to light. It was the merest accident the cheque-book stayed in your pocket.     

       WALTER. It must have been the temptation of a moment. He hadn't time.     

       JAMES. A man doesn't succumb like that in a moment, if he's a clean mind and habits. He's rotten; got the eyes of a man who can't keep his hands off when there's money about.     

       WALTER. [Dryly] We hadn't noticed that before.     

       JAMES. [Brushing the remark aside] I've seen lots of those fellows in my time. No doing anything with them except to keep 'em out of harm's way. They've got a blind spat.     

       WALTER. It's penal servitude.     

       COKESON. They're nahsty places-prisons.     

       JAMES. [Hesitating] I don't see how it's possible to spare him. Out of the question to keep him in this office—honesty's the 'sine qua non'.     

       COKESON. [Hypnotised] Of course it is.     

       JAMES. Equally out of the question to send him out amongst people who've no knowledge of his character. One must think of society.     

       WALTER. But to brand him like this?     

       JAMES. If it had been a straightforward case I'd give him another chance. It's far from that. He has dissolute habits.     

       COKESON. I didn't say that—extenuating circumstances.     

       JAMES. Same thing. He's gone to work in the most cold-blooded way to defraud his employers, and cast the blame on an innocent man. If that's not a case for the law to take its course, I don't know what is.     

       WALTER. For the sake of his future, though.     

       JAMES. [Sarcastically] According to you, no one would ever prosecute.     

       WALTER. [Nettled] I hate the idea of it.     

       COKESON. That's rather 'ex parte', Mr. Walter! We must have protection.     

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