JAMES. [Hesitating] I don't see how it's possible to spare him. Out of the question to keep him in this office—honesty's the 'sine qua non'.
COKESON. [Hypnotised] Of course it is.
JAMES. Equally out of the question to send him out amongst people who've no knowledge of his character. One must think of society.
WALTER. But to brand him like this?
JAMES. If it had been a straightforward case I'd give him another chance. It's far from that. He has dissolute habits.
COKESON. I didn't say that—extenuating circumstances.
JAMES. Same thing. He's gone to work in the most cold-blooded way to defraud his employers, and cast the blame on an innocent man. If that's not a case for the law to take its course, I don't know what is.
WALTER. For the sake of his future, though.
JAMES. [Sarcastically] According to you, no one would ever prosecute.
WALTER. [Nettled] I hate the idea of it.