[LUCY ALLERTON, _hearing a commotion, comes in. She is older than George, a tall girl, white now, with eyes heavy from want of sleep. She has lived in the country all her life, and has brought up to London a sort of remoteness from the world. She is beautiful in a very English manner, and her clear-cut features are an index to a character in which the moral notions are peculiarly rigid. Self-control is a quality which she possesses in a marked degree, and one which she enormously admires in others_. LUCY. Who is it? GEORGE. It's Alec Mackenzie. He's come from the trial! LUCY. Then it's finished at last. [_She shakes hands with_ DICK.] It's so good of you to come. BOULGER. You're perfectly wonderful, Lucy. How can you be so calm? LUCY. Because I'm quite sure of the result. D'you imagine I'd doubt my father for a moment? DICK. Oh, Lucy, for heaven's sake don't be so sure. You must be prepared for everything. LUCY. Oh, no, I know my father. D'you think I've not studied him during these years that I've looked after him? He's a child, with all a child's thoughtlessness and simplicity. And God knows, he's weak. I know his faults better than any one, but it would be impossible for him to do anything criminal. [_The_ BUTLER _enters, followed by_ ALEC MACKENZIE. ALEC _is a tall, wiry man, well-knit, with dark hair and a small red moustache and beard, cut close to the face. He is about five-and-thirty. He has great ease of manner, and there is about him an air as though he were accustomed that people should do as he told them._ BUTLER. Mr. Mackenzie! GEORGE. Is it finished? For God's sake tell us quickly, old man. LUCY. Why didn't father come with you? Is he following? ALEC. Yes, it's all over. LADY KELSEY. Thank goodness. The suspense was really too dreadful. GEORGE. I knew they'd acquit him. Thank God! DICK. [_Looking at_ ALEC'S _face_.] Take care, George. [_Suddenly_ LUCY _goes up to_ ALEC _and looks at him. An expression of horror distorts her features._ MRS. CROWLEY. Lucy, what is it? ALEC. I don't know how I am going to tell you. LUCY. You say the trial was over when you came away? ALEC. Yes. LUCY. The jury had given their verdict? GEORGE. Lucy, what are you driving at? You don't think ...? ALEC. Your father asked me to come and break it to you. GEORGE. He's not dead? ALEC. Perhaps it would be better if he were. LUCY. They found him guilty? ALEC. Yes. GEORGE. [_With a groan of despair._] Oh! But it's impossible. LUCY. [_Putting her hand on his arm._] Ssh! LADY KELSEY. My God, my God! I'm thankful that his wife is dead. LUCY. I'm awfully stupid, but if he was innocent, how could they find him guilty? I don't know what you mean. ALEC. I am afraid it's very clear. LUCY. There must be some horrible mistake. ALEC. I wish there were. GEORGE.