BOOTH. Yes, certainly. I'll talk this over with Trenchard. [_as he gets up and automatically stiffens, he is reminded of the occasion and his voice drops._] I say . . we've been speaking very loud. You must do nothing rash. I've no doubt I can devise something which will obviate . . and then I'm sure I shall convince you . . [_glancing into the hall he apparently catches_ TRENCHARD'S _impatient eye, for he departs abruptly saying_ . . ] All right, Trenchard, you've eight minutes. BOOTH'S _departure leaves_ HUGH, _at any rate, really at his ease_. HUGH. What an experience for you, Edward! EDWARD. [_bitterly._] And I feared what the shock might be to you all! Booth has made a good recovery. HUGH. You wouldn't have him miss such a chance of booming at us all. EDWARD. It's strange the number of people who believe you can do right by means which they know to be wrong. HUGH. [_taking great interest in this._] Come, what do we know about right and wrong? Let's say legal and illegal. You're so down on the Governor because he has trespassed against the etiquette of your own profession. But now he's dead . . and if there weren't the disgrace to think of . . it's no use the rest of us pretending to feel him a criminal, because we don't. Which just shows that money . . and property-- _At this point he becomes conscious that_ ALICE MAITLAND _is standing behind him, her eyes fixed on his brother. So he interrupts himself to ask_ . . HUGH. D'you want to speak to Edward? ALICE. Please, Hugh. HUGH. I'll go. _He goes, a little martyrlike, to conclude the evolution of his theory in soliloquy; his usual fate._ ALICE _still looks at_ EDWARD _with soft eyes, and he at her rather appealingly_. ALICE. Auntie has told me. EDWARD. He was fond of you. Don't think worse of him than you can help. ALICE. I'm thinking of you. EDWARD. I may just escape. ALICE. So Trenchard says. EDWARD. My hands are clean, Alice. ALICE. [_her voice falling lovingly._] I know that. EDWARD. Mother's not very upset. ALICE. She had expected a smash in his life time. EDWARD. I'm glad that didn't happen. ALICE. Yes . . as the fault was his it won't hurt you so much to stand up to the blame. EDWARD _looks puzzled at this for a moment, then gives it up_. EDWARD. I'm hurt enough now. ALICE. Why, what have the boys done? It was a mercy to tell Honor just at this time. She can grieve for his death and his disgrace at the same time . . and the one grief lessens the other perhaps. EDWARD. Oh, they're all shocked enough at the disgrace . . but will they open their purses to lessen the disgrace? ALICE. Will it seem less disgraceful to have stolen ten thousand pounds than twenty? EDWARD. I should think so. ALICE. I should think so, but I wonder if that's the Law. If it isn't, Trenchard wouldn't consider the point. I'm sure Public Opinion doesn't say so . . and that's what Booth is considering. EDWARD. [_with contempt._] Yes.