TRENCHARD. [_precisely._] I think you said . . 'will be.' BOOTH. [_in a tone of mitigated thunder._] Why will there be no money? EDWARD. [_letting himself go._] Because every penny by right belongs to those clients whom our father spent his life in defrauding. When I say defrauding, I mean it in its worst sense . . swindling . . thieving. I have been in the swim of it, for the past year . . oh, you don't know the sink of iniquity . . and therefore I mean to collect every penny, any money that you can give me; put the firm into bankruptcy; pay back all these people what we can. I'll stand my trial . . it'll come to that with me . . and as soon as possible. [_he pauses, partly for breath, and glares at them all._] Are none of you going to speak? Quite right, what is there to be said! [_Then with a gentle afterthought._] I'm sorry to hurt you, mother. _The_ VOYSEY _family is simply buried deep by this avalanche of horror_. MRS. VOYSEY, _though, who has been watching_ EDWARD _closely, says very calmly_. MRS. VOYSEY. I can't hear quite all you say, but I guess what it is. You don't hurt me, Edward . . I have known of this for a long time. EDWARD. [_with almost a cry._] Oh, mother, did he know you knew? MRS. VOYSEY. What do you say? TRENCHARD. [_collected and dry._] I may as well tell you, Edward, I suspected everything wasn't right about the time of my last quarrel with my father. Of course, I took care not to pursue my suspicions. Was father aware that you knew, Mother? MRS. VOYSEY. We never discussed it. There was once a great danger . . when you were all younger . . of his being found out. But we never discussed it. EDWARD. [_swallowing a fresh bitterness._] I'm glad it isn't such a shock to all of you. HUGH. [_alive to a dramatic aspect of the matter._] My God . . before the earth has settled on his grave! EDWARD. I thought it wrong to postpone telling you. HONOR, _the word swindling having spelt itself out in her mind, at last gives way to a burst of piteous grief_. HONOR. Oh, poor papa! . . poor papa! EDWARD. [_comforting her kindly._] Honor, we shall want your help and advice. _The Major has recovered from the shock, to swell with importance. It being necessary to make an impression he instinctively turns first to his wife._ BOOTH. I think, Emily, there was no need for you to have been present at this exposure, and that now you had better retire. EMILY. Very well, Booth. _She gets up to go, conscious of her misdemeanour. But as she reaches the door, an awful thought strikes the Major._ BOOTH. Good Heavens . . I hope the servants haven't been listening! See where they are, Emily . . and keep them away, distract them. Open the door suddenly; [_she does so, more or less, and there is no one behind it._] That's all right. _Having watched his wife's departure, he turns with gravity to his brother._ BOOTH. I have said nothing as yet, Edward. I am thinking.