CHARLIE. Well, haven't you got them?
JOHN. No. It was enough for Jabez to know that he got a good return on his money. I've never had auditors in the place. Jabez never asked it.
CHARLIE. That doesn't justify your carrying on the thing in a slipshod manner. It only shows how absolutely content you were to remain in abject dependence on Thompson. Any tin-pot grocer keeps his books properly and gets them audited.
JOHN. Charlie, I'm your father.
CHARLIE. Oh, it's all right. I'm going to stick by you. I'm going to be a pawn in Thompson's game. But I can't pretend that I can do it with a good grace. Your point of view's all wrong. You've been sailing under false colours all your life, and now I'm to cave in to Thompson so that you can go on living a lie to the end, and a silly lie at that.
JOHN (with dignity). Charlie, remember who you are speaking to.
CHARLIE. I do. I haven't the slightest hope of making you see it as I do, but I can't go licking Thompson's boots on your behalf without letting you know I'm not doing it for fun. And there's Rosie. I suppose Rosie's included in the bargain.
JOHN. You engaged yourself to her, didn't you?
CHARLIE. No. She did all the engaging there was about it. But it amounts to the same thing. I shall have to go through with it.
JOHN. Well, for the life of me I can't see what you have to complain of. Rosie's a nice girl.