BEATRICE. Quite so. And you don't possess and your father didn't possess that innate sense of the sacredness of property . . . [_she enjoys that phrase._] which alone can make a truly honest man. Nor did the man possess it who picked my pocket last Friday week . . nor does the tax-gatherer . . . nor do I. Your father's freedom from prejudice was tempered by a taste for Power and Display. Yours is by Charity. But that's all the difference I'll admit between you. Robbery! . . it's a beautiful word. EDWARD. [_a little pained by as much of this as he takes to be serious._] I think he might have told me the truth. BEATRICE. Perhaps he didn't know it! Would you have believed him? EDWARD. Perhaps not. But I loved him. BEATRICE _looks again at the gentle, earnest face_. BEATRICE. After as well as before? EDWARD. Yes. And not from mere force of habit either. BEATRICE. [_with reverence in her voice now._] That should silence a bench of judges. Well . . well . . _Her sewing finished, she stuffs the things into her basket, gets up in her abrupt unconventional way and goes without another word. Her brain is busy with the Voysey Inheritance._ EDWARD _and_ ALICE _are left in chairs by the fire, facing each other like an old domestic couple_. EDWARD. Stay and speak to me. ALICE. I want to. Something more serious has happened since dinner. EDWARD. I'm glad you can see that. ALICE. What is it? EDWARD. [_with sudden exultation._] The smash has come . . and not by my fault. Old George Booth-- ALICE. Has he been here? EDWARD. Can you imagine it? That old man forced me into telling him the truth. I told him to take what money of his there was, and prosecute. He won't prosecute, but he bargains to take the money . . and further to bleed us, sovereign by sovereign, as I earn sovereign by sovereign with the sweat of my soul. I'll see him in his Christian Heaven first . . the Jew! ALICE. [_keeping her head._] You can't reason with him? EDWARD. He thinks he has the whip hand and he means to use it. Also the Vicar has been told . . who has told his wife. She knows how not to keep a secret. The smash has come at last. ALICE. So you're glad? EDWARD. Thankful. My conscience is clear. I've done my best. [_then as usual with him, his fervour collapses._] And oh, Alice . . has it been worth doing? ALICE. [_encouragingly._] Half a dozen people pulled out of the fire. EDWARD. If only that isn't found out! I've bungled this job, Alice. I feared all along I should. It was work for a strong man . . not for me. ALICE. Work for a patient man. EDWARD. You use kind words. But I've never shirked the truth about myself. My father said mine was a weak nature. He knew. ALICE. You have a religious nature. EDWARD. [_surprised._] Oh no!