I venture to think it's very important. LUCY. [_Smiling._] I'm all attention. [_He hesitates for a moment, then braces himself to the ordeal._ BOULGER. I've told you often, Lucy, that I've been in love with you for as many years as I can remember. LUCY. Surely you've not snatched me from the unwilling arm of my partner in order to make me a proposal of marriage? BOULGER. I'm perfectly serious, Lucy. LUCY. [_Smiling._] I assure you it doesn't suit you at all. BOULGER. The other day I asked you again to marry me, just before Alec Mackenzie came back. LUCY. It was very charming of you. You mustn't think that because I laugh at you a little I'm not grateful for your affection. BOULGER. Except for that letter in this morning's _Times_, I should never have dared to say anything to you again. But that changes everything. LUCY. I don't understand what you mean. BOULGER. [_After a little pause._] I ask you again if you'll be my wife? When Alec Mackenzie came back I understood why you were so indifferent to me, but you can't marry him now. LUCY. You have no right to talk to me like this. BOULGER. I'm the only man who's related to you at all, and I love you with my whole soul. LADY KELSEY. I think you should listen to him, Lucy. I'm growing old, and soon you'll be quite alone in the world. BOULGER. I don't ask you to care for me. I only want to serve you. LUCY. I can only repeat that I'm very grateful to you. I can never marry you. BOULGER. [_Beginning to lose his temper again._] Are you going to continue to know Mackenzie? If you'll take the advice of any unprejudiced person about that letter, you'll find that he'll say the same as I. There can be no shadow of doubt that Mackenzie is guilty of a monstrous crime. LUCY. I don't care what the evidence is. I know he can't have done a shameful thing. BOULGER. But have you forgotten that it's your own brother he killed? The whole country is up in arms against him, and you are quite indifferent. LUCY. [_Much moved._] Oh, Bobbie, how can you be so cruel? BOULGER. If you ever really cared for George at all, you must wish to punish the man who caused his death. LUCY. Oh, why d'you torment me? I tell you that he isn't guilty. It's because I'm convinced of that ... BOULGER. [_Interrupting._] But have you asked him? LUCY. No. BOULGER. He might give you the truth. LUCY. I couldn't do that. BOULGER. Why not? LADY KELSEY. It's very strange that he should insist on this silence. LUCY. Do you believe that story too? LADY KELSEY. I don't know what to believe. It's so extraordinary. If the man's innocent, why doesn't he speak? LUCY. He knows I trust him. I couldn't cause him the great pain of asking him questions. BOULGER. Are you afraid he couldn't answer them? LUCY. No, no, no! BOULGER. Well, just try. After all, you owe as much as that to the memory of George. LADY KELSEY.